Eric Dane, once the silver-haired heartthrob of Grey’s Anatomy, now cuts a heartbreaking figure—frail, in a wheelchair, and visibly weakened by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a cruel and incurable neurodegenerative disease. The 52-year-old actor, who publicly revealed his diagnosis earlier this year, was recently photographed in Washington, D.C., following a meeting with lawmakers to advocate for ALS awareness and funding. The image—him seated in a wheelchair, dressed in a dark windbreaker, tinted glasses shielding his eyes, and his frame visibly thinner—has left fans and followers in shock, stunned by how quickly his condition has deteriorated.
Despite being seen walking as recently as mid-September, Dane is now dependent on a wheelchair, a clear and devastating sign of the disease’s rapid progression. In the photo, one of his hands rests quietly in his lap, while the other holds the controller of the chair. A black crossbody bag lies strapped across his torso, completing the somber picture of a man once known for his physical vitality.
From TV Star to ALS Advocate
In April 2025, Dane revealed he had been diagnosed with ALS, a terminal illness that slowly destroys the nerve cells responsible for controlling muscle movement. He shared that he had already lost full use of his right arm and feared the left side of his body might soon follow. In interviews since then, Dane has described the diagnosis as “sobering,” acknowledging that the condition now shapes every part of his life.
“Every morning I wake up, and I’m immediately reminded this is real. It’s not a dream,” Dane told Diane Sawyer in an emotional interview on Good Morning America.
Though he has retreated somewhat from the spotlight, Dane has not remained silent. In fact, he’s using his platform to bring attention to the urgent need for ALS research and funding. He recently partnered with the nonprofit organization I AM ALS, and in a video message posted online, he stated:
