Eric Dane Shares His Health Journey and Opens Up About ALS Battle Following ‘Brilliant Minds’ Episode

Eric Dane recently spoke candidly about his life since being diagnosed with ALS during a Giving Tuesday panel hosted by I AM ALS alongside the creators of Brilliant Minds. He emphasized his determination not to let the disease define his purpose, stating, Im not about to concede my purpose to some disease. I just am not capable of doing that.

Dane admitted the emotional weight of his condition, adding, I have no reason to be in a good spirit at any time, on any given day. I dont think anybody would blame me if I went upstairs in my bedroom, crawled under the sheets, and spent the next two weeks crying.

He explained that sharing his story has become a priority: I think its imperative that I share my journey with as many people as I can because I dont feel like my life is about me anymore. The 53-year-old recently appeared on NBCs Brilliant Minds, portraying a firefighter facing an ALS diagnosis. He is also set to appear in the upcoming season of Euphoria.

Michael Grassi, creator and showrunner of Brilliant Minds, said the episode was crafted with authenticity in mind: We really wanted to honor him and his experience and be really truthful about it. [We] didnt want to sensationalize in any way.

Dane reflected on the shift in perspective his diagnosis brought: Realizing my life is about more than me has been something Ive had to wrestle with because Im a pretty selfish person. This is such a big deal to me to make sure that people are aware of what ALS is and what its about, and more importantly, what we can do to combat it and improve the landscape.

Earlier this year, Dane revealed his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to loss of muscle control. Currently, there is no cure for the condition.

Grassi also shared that Dane had approached the show after seeing Brilliant Minds and expressing interest in participating, which led to in-depth discussions between the actor and the creative team. We really wanted to honor Eric and step up and do this for him. Cast, crew, and writers everybody really stepped up in such a beautiful way, Grassi said.

Author: Maya Henderson