Eric Dane, who is famously known for his role as Dr Mark Sloan on the long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, recently opened up about the reason behind his absence from the much-anticipated Grey’s Anatomy reunion at this year’s Emmy Awards. The 52-year-old actor revealed that a serious fall resulted in hospitalization, preventing him from attending the event.
Dane, who disclosed his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) earlier this year in April, shared with The Washington Post on Thursday, “ALS is a nasty disease.” He explained that during the Emmy Awards, he was in the hospital receiving stitches for a head injury sustained in the fall. The actor expressed his disappointment about missing the reunion, admitting he was “really upset” about not being there for such an important occasion.
Despite his frustration, Dane acknowledged the situation was beyond his control, stating simply, “there was nothing I could do about it.”
The actor had been scheduled to appear at the Emmys as a presenter alongside his former Grey’s Anatomy co-star Jesse Williams. The presentation was to mark the show’s 20th anniversary—a significant milestone for the series and its cast. Dane expressed how much he had been looking forward to the opportunity, telling the publication, “I missed an opportunity I was really looking forward to.”
He added that reconnecting with Williams and other colleagues from the show, as well as presenting in front of his peers, “would have been a special moment.” Unfortunately, Williams ended up presenting the award for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series alone, without mentioning Dane or the series during the ceremony.
However, Williams did take time on the red carpet to speak warmly about his longtime friend. He described Dane as “solid,” praising him as “my guy” and emphasizing the importance of men taking care of themselves, especially in light of Dane’s health challenges.
For those who don’t know, ALS is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, eventually leading to loss of muscle control, Mayo Clinic has reported. Dane’s diagnosis came after he began experiencing weakness in his right hand, a symptom he initially dismissed. Speaking on Good Morning America in June, the actor explained, “I didn’t really think anything of it at the time. I thought maybe I had been texting too much or my hand was fatigued. But a few weeks later, I noticed it had gotten a little worse.”
Despite the grim prognosis that comes with ALS, sources close to Dane say he remains determined to make the most of his time. A source told the Daily Mail recently that Dane is focused on living fully in the present and maintaining a positive outlook. “He wants to enjoy what he has now because he now knows with his full heart that tomorrow isn’t promised,” the insider revealed.
The source also noted Dane’s desire to avoid being mourned prematurely or having people grieve him during his battle with the disease. Instead, he hopes those around him will stay positive and supportive, sharing happiness whenever possible. “He wants to live life and he doesn’t want people grieving him or for him while he is going through this terrible disease, he just wants the people in his life to be present and as happy as they can be, he wants to always surround himself with positivity, that is a major thing that is driving him nowadays,” the source added.
As Eric Dane deals with ALS and heals from his recent fall, he’s been getting a lot of love and support from fans and friends in the industry. While it looks like missing the Emmy reunion was definitely tough for him, he’s staying focused on living in the moment and keeping a positive mindset.