Eric Dane was candid about his sobriety journey before his death from ALS at age 53.
Dane previously revealed he struggled with substance abuse while he was starring on Grey’s Anatomy. The actor played Dr. Mark Sloan, also known as McSteamy, for eight seasons.
“If you take the whole eight years on Grey’s Anatomy, I was f***ed up longer than I was sober. And that’s when things started going sideways for me,” Dane recalled during a June 2024 interview on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast. “It was overwhelming, and I think I just wanted to pretend that it wasn’t and that I was comfortable with it. Act like you’ve been there, but you haven’t been there.”
Dane ultimately got sober after going to a treatment facility in 2011. In April 2025, Dane revealed that he was diagnosed with ALS. After publicly battling the condition for more than a year, Dane died in February 2026.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” the statement read. “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world,” Dane’s family said in a statement to Us Weekly. “Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
Keep scrolling for Dane’s honest quotes about his sobriety journey.
Eric Dane Had a Relapse While ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Was on Pause
Eric Dane recalled how he had a relapse while Grey’s Anatomy was halted due to the 2007 Writer’s Strike
“I’m not good with a lot of time on my hands,” he told Brad Falchuk in a Famous Last Words interview which aired in February 2026 before Dane’s death. “I need structure and [Grey’s Anatomy] provided a lot of structure for me. When we stopped short for the writers’ strike, I had months off and I found my way back to drugs and alcohol. I knew better because at that time I had been sober for about nine years, so I knew better.”
Eric Dane Left ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ During His Addiction Struggles
Eric Dane recalled being “let go” from Grey’s Anatomy amid his addiction battle. The actor clarified that he wasn’t fired from the drama because of his personal issues.
“Although it definitely didn’t help. I was starting to become, as most of these actors who have spent significant time on a show, you start to become very expensive for the network,” he explained during a June 2024 appearance on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast. “And the network knows that the show is going to do what it’s going to do irrespective of who they keep on it. As long as they have their Grey, they’re fine.”
Eric Dane and Dax Shepard Almost Got Into a ‘Fight’ at AA
While appearing on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast in June 2024, Eric Dane recalled a tense moment the pair had at an AA meeting.
“Somebody I brought … who probably shouldn’t have been at the meeting … did not stop, was droning on,” Dane recalled. “Dax’s friend … kept resetting this timer every time the guy would go over. The timer went off, like, seven times.”
Dane shared that after he threatened to set the person “ablaze,” he and Shepard went outside to “fight in the driveway.” Their sponsor stopped the argument from escalating into an altercation. Shepard added that he and Dane ultimately bonded over their shared love of cars and the fact that they carry “the exact same bag of bulls***.”
How Eric Dane’s Struggles Inspired His ‘Euphoria’ Character
On Euphoria, Eric Dane played Cal Jacobs, who is the father of Jacob Elordi’s character Nate. While Cal struggled with his sexuality, Dane shared that he channeled his experience with hiding his substance abuse issues.
“Well, Cal and I are very similar in that we know what it’s like to lead a double life,” he said in his Famous Last Words interview in February 2026. “I’ve had experience with that with my battle with drugs and alcohol. I know what it’s like to not have my insides match my outside.”
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