Cause of death revealed for ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Euphoria’ star Eric Dane, reports say

(Gray News) - The cause of death has been revealed for “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria” star Eric Dane, according to multiple reports.

The actor died of respiratory failure, People reported, with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) listed as an underlying cause of death.

Dane died Feb. 19, less than a year after he announced his diagnosis in April 2025. He was 53.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The disease gradually destroys the nerve cells and connections needed to walk, talk and breathe.

Most patients die within three to five years of a diagnosis.

Dane was most known for playing Dr. Mark Sloan, aka “McSteamy,” in “Grey’s Anatomy, and Cal Jacobs, a prominent character on HBO’s “Euphoria.”