How is Eric Dane coping with his ALS diagnosis?

Eric Dane has opened up since revealing he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) a few months ago. In a tearful preview of his Good Morning America interview, the actor sat down with Diane Sawyer to talk about what life has been like for him after being told he had the disease. Accustomed to playing tough, emotionally guarded characters, Dane showed fans a very different side of himself, one that's raw, honest, and softly strong.

Dane said, trying to hold back tears:

“I wake up every day and I’m immediately reminded that this is happening,”

As Sawyer gently responded, he softly echoed her words.

“It’s not a dream.”

That brief exchange alone was enough to stir an emotional wave online, with fans reacting to the gravity of what Eric Dane is facing and the grace with which he’s confronting it.

Eric Dane's Good Morning America Interview Goes Viral

The preview clip struck a nerve for its honesty. Many fans shared it across social media, praising Dane for his courage and transparency. At one poignant moment, Sawyer asked who he called first after receiving the news. Dane couldn’t immediately respond. He lowered his head, visibly emotional, and took a pause.

Dane revealed his diagnosis back in April, calling it “crushing." At the same time, he publicly thanked his family, saying:

“I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”

Not long before the announcement, his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, filed to dismiss their 2018 divorce. The timing led many to believe the two had reunited to support each other through this period. They share two daughters, Billie and Georgia.

Despite fighting ALS, Eric Dane isn't shirking off work. He's already signed up for returning to Season 3 of Euphoria in the role of Cal Jacobs.

The fact that he's opting to continue working despite fighting a degenerative disease speaks to his strength and will. ALS is a neurological disorder that gradually disintegrates one of muscular control, usually beginning underhandedly before going on to affect speech, mobility, and even the ability to breathe.

Despite this, Eric Dane has established something as a fact: he doesn't believe that this is the end. He told Sawyer:

"I don't think this is the end of my story. I don't feel like this is the end of me,"

That reassuring message went far and wide with fans, many of whom have been following his career since his early Grey's Anatomy days as Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan.

Eric Dane's first interview after his ALS diagnosis wasn't just a celebrity news bulletin; it was a human, emotional experience that touched many of us on a profound level. Opening up to the world with his quiet strength, Eric Dane teaches us that vulnerability is a form of courage. As he starts this next chapter with his family in attendance and work still to be done, one thing is certain: he may be fighting ALS, but he's not going to let it define him.

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