Eric Dane, ‘Euphoria,’ ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star, diagnosed with ALS: report

article

Eric Dane at the "One Fast Move" Los Angeles Special Screening on August 6, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Eric Dane, the star of popular shows including "Euphoria" and "Grey’s Anatomy," has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a report.

Dane told People in an exclusive report that he felt fortunate to continue working and asked the public to give his family privacy at this time.

"I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter," Dane told People.

Dane did not say when he was diagnosed with ALS. 

What is ALS?

Dig deeper:

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that impacts the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, according to the ALS Association website.

People who are diagnosed with ALS often start losing their ability to walk, talk, speak and breathe. Most patients die within three to five years of a diagnosis.

Who gets ALS? 

By the numbers:

 "Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with the disease, and someone passes away from it," according to the ALS Association.

Most people develop ALS between the ages of 40 and 70, but the disease can occur in people in their 20s and 30s as well.

Men are also 20% more likely to develop ALS than women. However, as they get older, the chances of developing the disease in men or women are about the same.

People who have served in the military are also more likely to develop ALS, but it’s not known why that may be, according to the ALS Association.

Other notable people who have battled ALS include Stephen Hawking; "SpongeBob SquarePants" creator Stephen Hillenburg; and Jon Stone, the creator of "Sesame Street."

Lou Gehrig’s disease

The backstory:

Though ALS was discovered in 1869 by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, it became more widely known after it ended the career of Lou Gehrig in the 40s.

Gehrig was a beloved baseball player for the New York Yankees for 17 years. 

In honor of Gehrig, the Yankees designated July 4, 1939, as "Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day."

ALS ice bucket challenge

The backstory:

In 2014, the ALS ice bucket challenge was one of the most viral philanthropic social media campaigns in history. 

The ALS Association began tracking the campaign’s progress and raised tens of millions of dollars for ALS research.

Thousands of people, including celebrities like Taylor Swift and Oprah Winfrey, have posted videos of themselves getting buckets of ice water dumped over their heads and challenging others to do the same — or donate money.