Eric Dane, the American actor best known for playing Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy and Cal Jacobs on HBO’s Euphoria, died Feb. 19, 2026. He was 53. His family said he died from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, after a public battle with the disease. They said he spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his wife and his two daughters, Billie and Georgia.
The date of Dane’s death coincided with a milestone in his career: Feb. 19, 2026, was the 20th anniversary of his first appearance on Grey’s Anatomy, which aired Feb. 19, 2006. His portrayal of Sloan made him one of the show’s most recognizable additions of that era and helped cement his status as a network television star.
He later reached a new audience on Euphoria as Cal Jacobs, a performance that extended his visibility well beyond the earlier medical drama. One of his final screen appearances was a guest role on NBC’s Brilliant Minds, in which he played firefighter Matthew Ramati, a character confronting an ALS diagnosis and its effects.
Dane first developed ALS symptoms in 2024 and disclosed his diagnosis publicly in April 2025. In September 2025, he supported the nonprofit I Am ALS and its “Push for Progress” campaign, which the group described as an effort to find the fastest path to a cure.
While Dane remained closely identified with his signature television roles, he also used his diagnosis to draw attention to ALS and the need for faster research and treatment development. His advocacy became a prominent part of how he was remembered in the final year of his life.