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Eric Dane, best known for his roles in Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria, is using his platform to call for urgent progress in the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The 52-year-old actor, who revealed his own diagnosis in April 2025, appeared in a new video on Monday, Sept. 15, in partnership with the nonprofit I AM ALS.
"I'm Eric, an actor, a father and now a person living with ALS," he began in the campaign clip, where he wore a shirt reading, I AM ALS. "For over a century, ALS has been incurable, and we're done accepting the status quo. We need the fastest path to a cure, and that's why I partnered with I Am ALS on the Push for Progress. Our goal: a billion dollars over the next three years."
The Push for Progress campaign seeks to raise $1 billion in federal funding to accelerate ALS research and ensure access to treatments. Dane added, "Together, we'll renew the landmark law Act for ALS, give promising treatments to thousands of patients like me, and finally, finally, push towards ending this disease."
The Act for ALS, signed into law in 2021, established grant programs for neurodegenerative diseases and expanded funding for treatment development. However, it is set to expire in 2026, making renewed advocacy critical. As I AM ALS states, "ALS isn't untreatable—it's underfunded. Through the action and boldness of our community, people who are living with and impacted by ALS, we're going to change that."
Dane's public message came just one day after he missed a highly anticipated appearance at the 2025 Emmy Awards. He was scheduled to present alongside former Grey's Anatomy co-star Jesse Williams in a segment marking the medical drama's 20-year legacy. Instead, Williams took the stage alone. Emmy producer Jesse Collins told Variety, "I don't know the details of that. I was just told that he wasn't able to make it. And fortunately, Jesse was able to present by himself."
In recent months, Dane has spoken openly about his symptoms. On Good Morning America in June, he explained, "My dominant side, my left side, is functioning. My right side has completely stopped working. I feel like maybe a couple more months and I won't have my left hand either. It's sobering."
Despite the challenges, Dane has continued filming season three of Euphoria and remains committed to raising awareness. "There's so much more to learn, more to do, and we have to do it now," he urged. "Get involved and be a part of pushing for progress."
