Who Are Eric Dane’s Wife and Kids? ‘Euphoria’ Star Diagnosed With ALS

Eric Dane revealed his ALS diagnosis while sharing a message about his family.

The Euphoria star, 52, is married to actress Rebecca Gayheart, 53, and the couple have two teenage daughters together: Billie Beatrice Dane, 15, and Georgia Geraldine Dane, 13.

“I have been diagnosed with ALS,” he told People in a story published on Thursday. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”

He added: “I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week. I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”

Newsweek reached out to Dane’s representative via email for comment.

What Is ALS?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), formerly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurological disorder that affects motor neurons, the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement and breathing. As motor neurons degenerate and die, they stop sending messages to the muscles, which causes the muscles to weaken, start to twitch (fasciculations), and waste away (atrophy).”

Their website states: “Eventually, in people with ALS, the brain loses its ability to initiate and control voluntary movements such as walking, talking, chewing and other functions, as well as breathing. ALS is progressive, meaning the symptoms get worse over time.”

What Are the Symptoms of ALS?

NINDS lists several “early symptoms” of the disease, including: Muscle cramps, slurred and nasal speech, difficulty chewing or swallowing and more.

Who Is Eric Dane’s Wife?

Dane and Gayheart got married in 2004, two years before his breakout role on Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Mark Sloan, also known as “McSteamy.”

In 2018, Gayheart filed for divorce from the Marley and Me star.

“After 14 years together, we have decided that ending our marriage is the best decision for our family,” Dane said in a statement to People at the time. “We will continue our friendship and work as a team to coparent our two beautiful girls as they are the most important thing in the world to us. We kindly ask that you respect our privacy during this time as we navigate the next phase of our lives.”

However, in March, Gayheart filed to dismiss their divorce—seven years after their announcement.

Earlier this week, the Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood actress shared an update on their relationship.

“We are best of friends. We are really close. We are great coparents,” Gayheart told E! News. “We really figured out the formula to staying a family and I think our kids are benefiting greatly from it and we are as well.”

Who Are Eric Dane’s Kids?

Dane and Gayheart welcomed their first child together, daughter Billie Dane, on March 3, 2010.

One month before she was born, Dane shared his excitement about her impending arrival in an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

“I’ll be in the room,” he told host Ellen DeGeneres. “I’m going to stay close to my wife and make sure that she is all right. I’m really excited. I’m also very interested.”

During an appearance on Harry Connick Jr.’s talk show Harry in 2016, Dane revealed his firstborn is “named after my father.”

“Whether it was a boy or a girl, the firstborn was gonna be a Billie,” he said.

Georgia Geraldine Dane was born on December 28, 2011.

In an April 2020 Instagram post, Gayheart gushed over their youngest child amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’m sharing a few pics of Georgia today because she is the only one in the family who is thriving and not just surviving. She loves being home and finds the joy in most everything she does. I’m so thankful for this kid 🥳💙.”