Eric Dane is sharing a candid update on his battle with ALS.
The 52-year-old actor sat down with Diane Sawyer for a Good Morning America interview, which aired on Monday, June 16, where he explained the early signs of his condition and the difficult path to diagnosis. He also revealed the emotional toll the disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, has already taken on his body.
“I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand,” Dane recalled, initially brushing it off as fatigue from texting too much. But as the symptoms worsened, he sought help from a series of specialists. After months of tests, he was finally diagnosed with ALS. “I will never forget those three letters. It’s on me the second I wake up,” he said, referring to his diagnosis as an unshakeable reality. “It’s not a dream.”
Dane’s condition has since progressed, and he shared that his right side, his dominant side, is now nonfunctional. “I have one functioning arm,” he explained, “My left side is functioning, but my right side, [which is my dominant side], has completely stopped working.” He expressed concern for his legs and the continued deterioration of his health, adding, “[My left arm] is going. I feel like maybe a couple, a few more months and I won’t have my left…I’m worried about my legs.”
The actor revealed his diagnosis to People back in April, and has been surrounded by the love and support of his family, including his estranged wife, Rebecca Gayheart. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,” he revealed to the outlet. The duo, who were on the path to divorce until Gayheart dismissed her petition right before Dane went public with his diagnosis, continue to co-parent their two children, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13.
As Dane battles the disease, he’s focused on cherishing the time he has with his family and continuing his work. As he revealed to the outlet, the Grey’s Anatomy alum is “looking forward to returning to the set of Euphoria next week.”