Eric Dane dropped out of ALS event due to 'physical realities' of the disease

Eric Dane had to drop out of an appearance at an event supporting ALS research Saturday.

The “Grey’s Anatomy” star was scheduled to attend the ALS Network’s Champions for Cures and Cara Gala where he was set to be recognized as Advocate of the Year.

However, the ALS network confirmed that Dane had to cancel just a few hours beforehand "due to the physical realities of ALS."

“We remain deeply grateful for his courage, advocacy, and continued commitment to the ALS community, and we honor him fully this evening with our profound respect and support," the organization said in a statement to People.

They added that actor and fellow ALS patient Aaron Lazar would "accept the award on [Dane's] behalf.”

Dane was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, in April of this year. While there are treatments for ALS to slow its progression, there is no known cure, and patients gradually lose their ability to move, speak, and breathe independently.

The 53-year-old has become an advocate for ALS patients. In October, he visited Washington, D.C., with U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) as part of his work with the I AM ALS non-profit to push for the reauthorization of the ACT For ALS law that expands access to treatments and works to support the development of new therapies for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.

“I have two daughters at home,” he said in the meeting. “I want to see them, you know, graduate college, and get married and maybe have grandkids. You know, I want to be there for all that. So I’m going to fight to the last breath on this one.”

Dane shares Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, with ex-wife Rebecca Gayheart. She filed for divorce from Dane in 2018 but later withdrew the petition in March 2025.

Gayheart has also become an advocate for ALS, recently opening up in an essay for The Cut about the realities of being a caregiver.

Dane has round-the-clock care split across 21 shifts, but Gayheart still steps in where needed.

“There are times that shifts aren’t covered, so I cover them,” she wrote. “There was a 12-hour shift recently that I could not cover. I could only do four hours because of all the stuff that the kids are doing.”

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