Eric Dane‘s death certificate was released around Monday, March 2, and it reveals the beloved “Grey’s Anatomy” star ultimately succumbed to respiratory failure related to his ALS. That’s according to People, which says they obtained the certificate. The father of two declined rapidly after announcing his devastating diagnosis less than a year ago, in April 2025.
An Instagram post that appeared on is account shortly after his February 19 death addressed how jarringly soon he was gone, saying his illness “progressed far more quickly than anyone could have imagined.” The statement also noted, “Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received.”
Eric Dane Talked About Impending Fatherhood Years Ago in ‘Ellen’ Appearance
At the height of his “Grey’s Anatomy” run as Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloane, Dane appeared on “The Ellen Show” and discussed the upcoming birth of his first daughter, Billie Beatrice. He laughed to Ellen that he and his wife had been “actively” trying to have a baby, “and it worked.”
The television star went on, “I’m excited. I’m also really interested. I’ll be in the room. I’m gonna stay close to my wife and make sure that she’s alright.”
GettyHe added that the couple had a name they really liked, but his wife Rebecca Gayheart wanted to wait until they saw her to finalize it. “I told her, ‘Babe, they all kinda look the same when they first hit air,'” he joked.
When Ellen asked, “Do daddies get time off on ‘Grey’s Anatomy?’ Dane replied, “I guess technically I could take time off. But I’m close to home, and I think the best thing for me to do is probably work.” He said that his family is well-taken-care-of at home by his wife, and “she wants me at work.”
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Brought Fans to Tears With a Televised Tribute to McSteamy
“Grey’s Anatomy” aired a tribute to Dr. Mark Sloane after the February 26 episode that had fans feeling emotional. One reacted to the video once it hit YouTube, “RIP Eric. I never got over not having Mark and Lexie on the show.”
The two characters died due to injuries sustained in a plane crash that took place during the season 8 finale. Lexie, who was Meredith Grey’s sister, died at the scene, and Mark experienced a slow decline that ended with his death in the hospital, eerily foreshadowing his real life fate.
