{"id":2290328,"date":"2026-02-20T03:43:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T03:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2290328"},"modified":"2026-02-20T03:43:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T03:43:15","slug":"celebrities-react-to-eric-danes-death-at-53-after-the-actors-als-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/celebrities-react-to-eric-danes-death-at-53-after-the-actors-als-battle\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrities React to Eric Dane\u2019s Death at 53 After the Actor\u2019s ALS Battle"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Celebrities are paying tribute to Grey\u2019s Anatomy<\/em> star Eric Dane<\/strong><\/a> after his death at age 53.<\/p>\n

Alyssa Milano<\/strong>, Ashton Kutcher<\/strong> and Maria Shriver<\/strong> led the tributes via social media as the stars reacted to the tragic loss.<\/p>\n

Dane\u2019s family confirmed his death on Thursday, February 19 via a statement to Us Weekly.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWith heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS. He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world,\u201d the statement read. \u201cThroughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Eric Dane Dead: \u2018Grey\u2019s Anatomy\u2019 Alum Dies at 53 After ALS Battle<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tActor Eric Dane is dead after a battle with ALS. He was 53. Dane\u2019s family confirmed the news on Thursday, February 19, in a statement to Us Weekly. \u201cWith heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,\u201d the statement read. \u201cHe spent his final days surrounded [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The statement concluded, \u201cEric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he\u2019s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Euphoria star publicly revealed he had been diagnosed with ALSin April 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been diagnosed with ALS,\u201d he told People in a statement at the time. \u201cI am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS or Lou Gehrig\u2019s disease, is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, often causing loss of muscle control. The disease progressively gets worse over time and does not have a cure.<\/p>\n

In December 2025, Dane said his family was his first priority on his health journey but added that he was committed to raising awareness of the disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, I have a family at home and they\u2019re the first priority, but this is such a big deal to me to make sure that people are aware of what ALS is and what it\u2019s about and, more importantly, what we can do to combat it and improve the landscape,\u201d he shared in a December 2025\u00a0 virtual panel discussion in collaboration with advocacy organization I AM ALS, for which Dane was an ambassador.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Celebrity Deaths of 2026: Eric Dane, and More Stars We Lost This Year<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tHollywood mourned the deaths of some of its most legendary stars in 2026. The year started off with Broadway performer and influencer Bret Hanna-Shuford\u2019s death at age 46. On January 11, famed composer Guy Moon died at age 63. Days later, Grammy-nominated musician John Fort\u00e9 was found dead at age 50. Later that month, All [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In a June 2025 interview with Good Morning America<\/em>, Dane praised his estranged wife, Rebecca Gayheart<\/strong>, who is the mother of his daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, for her support.<\/p>\n

\u201cI talk to her every day,\u201d Dane said on the morning talk show. \u201cWe have managed to become better friends and better parents and she is my \u2014 probably my biggest champion. My most stalwart supporter. And I lean on her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dane added that he was focusing on his family and \u201cfighting as much\u201d as he could.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so much about it that\u2019s out of my control,\u201d he explained to Diane Sawyer at the time. \u201cI\u2019m angry because, you know, my father was taken from me when I was young and now there\u2019s a very good chance I\u2019m going to be taken from my girls while they\u2019re very young. At the end of the day, all I want to do is spend time with my family and work a little bit if I can. \u2026 They\u2019re loved. They know it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keep scrolling to see which stars have spoken out in the wake of Dane\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

Alyssa Milano<\/h2>\n

Alyssa Milano,<\/strong> who costarred alongside Dane in Charmed<\/em>, shared her grief over his death via a heartfelt Instagram tribute posted on Thursday, February 19.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t stop seeing that spark in Eric\u2019s eye right before he\u2019d say something that would either make you spit out your drink or rethink your entire perspective. He had a razor-sharp sense of humor. He loved the absurdity of things. He loved catching people off guard,\u201d she wrote. \u201cAnd when it came to his daughters and Rebecca, everything in him softened. He carried them with him even in rooms where they weren\u2019t present. You could see it in the way his voice changed when he said their names. A breathtakingly beautiful family.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added, \u201cThe spark. The mischief. The tenderness he kept guarded but never totally hidden.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ashton Kutcher<\/h2>\n

Ashton Kutcher<\/strong> also honored Dane via an X post shared on Thursday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Franklin strip fanatics fantasy football league will miss Mr. Eric Dane. We know you\u2019ll be watching from the booth,\u201d Kutcher, 48, wrote. \u201cMiss you, buddy.\u00a0 Let\u2019s keep fighting the fight to solve ALS.\u201d<\/p>\n

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