Eric Dane has announced that he is battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological disease. The 52-year-old actor shared the news exclusively with PEOPLE.
Dane is married to actress Rebecca Gayheart, and they have two daughters: Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13.
He plays Cal Jacobs in the HBO hit series, which begins filming its third season on April 14.
What Is ALS?
ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It leads to loss of muscle control over time. Early symptoms include limb weakness, twitching, or slurred speech.
As the disease progresses, patients lose the ability to move, speak, eat, or breathe on their own. The Muscular Dystrophy Association states that most patients live three to five years after diagnosis. Some, however, survive much longer.
Eric Dane Joins Other Public Figures with ALS
Dane’s story adds to a growing list of celebrities raising awareness of ALS. Other notable names include Aaron Lazar, John Driskell Hopkins, Eric Stevens, Joe Bonsall, Roberta Flack, Kenneth Mitchell, and the late Stephen Hawking.
His symptoms reportedly started with chronic leg pain. Dane hopes that going public will encourage early diagnosis and support ongoing research.
