Eric Dane’s official cause of death has been revealed.
Following his passing on February 19, his death certificate has revealed that he died of respiratory failure, per PEOPLE.
His death certificate also has his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) listed as an underlying cause of death.
The Grey’s Anatomy star’s death came 10 months after he publicly revealed his diagnosis, and the cause of death follows after his final words to his daughters were revealed.
What were Eric Dane’s last words to his daughters?
Just days after his passing, his final words were released by Netflix after Eric filmed his last interview for their moving series, Famous Last Words, shortly before his death.
In the prerecorded message, Eric issued an emotional message for his two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, whom he shares with his wife, Rebecca Gayheart.
“Billie and Georgia, you are my heart,” he said. “You are my everything. Good night. I love you. Those are my last words.”
In the message, he also offered four lessons he learnt from living with ALS, urging his daughters to live in the present, fall in love, choose their friends wisely, and “fight with every ounce of your being, and with dignity”.
“Fight until your last breath. This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit,” he added.
In the months before his death, Eric tirelessly campaigned to raise more awareness for ALS.
How long did Eric Dane live with ALS?
In April 2025, Eric publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with ALS after months of testing.
His initial symptoms included weakness in his right hand, and he was diagnosed in late 2024 after extensive testing from doctors.
“It’s sobering,” he said during an interview on Good Morning America last year. “I’m fighting as much as I can. There’s so much about it that’s out of my control.”
Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS affects the nervous system and the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, and there is no cure.
After his diagnosis, Eric worked hard to raise awareness for ALS, becoming an ambassador for the not-for-profit I am ALS and helping to launch their “Push for Progress” campaign.
He was also honoured at the ALS Network’s Champions for Cures and Care Gala, which was held on January 24, for his steadfast advocacy work.
While he couldn’t attend on the night due to his health, his Grey’s Anatomy co-star Ellen Pompeo paid tribute to him in a video message.
“As soon as I heard about his diagnosis, I texted him, and I said, ‘I’m here if you want to speak,’ ” Ellen recalled. “And my phone rang 30 seconds later.”
She explained how she had told Eric that she would help with “whatever you need, however I can help”.
“I’m really proud of you,” Ellen continued. “I love you so much and I am honoured to get to speak about you today.”
As part of Eric’s determined advocacy, he also joined the Target ALS Foundation’s board of directors.
When did Eric Dane die?
Ten months after he publicly announced his diagnosis, Eric’s family confirmed the news of his death.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” a statement given to PEOPLE read.
“He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. “
“The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
After his death, a GoFundMe page was set up to provide financial support for his widow, Rebecca, and their two children.
“Any contribution, no matter the size, will help provide stability during this incredibly difficult time and in the future for Eric’s wonderful daughters,” the page reads.
The fundraiser had already raised more than $450,000 at the time of publication.
Who is Eric Dane’s wife Rebecca?
Actress and director Rebecca first met Eric when she was engaged to another man, but confidently told his friend that he was going to marry her.
Four years later, and they had tied the knot, with Eric explaining that he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
They welcomed their daughters, Billie and Georgia, together, but went their separate ways in 2018.
However, they maintained a very close relationship over the years, and Rebecca called off their divorce in March 2025.
In his posthumous interview for Netflix’s Famous Last Words, Eric emotionally said that he would never love anyone as much as Rebecca.
“I will never, by the time anybody sees this, have fallen in love with another woman as deeply as I fell in love with Rebecca,” he said.
After Eric’s death, Rebecca put out an Instagram statement thanking fans for the outpouring of support they had given her.
“There aren’t words to express our gratitude,” she said. “You are truly holding us up during this difficult time.”
Rebecca was a firm supporter of Eric’s throughout his ALS battle and stepped in to help during any gaps in his around-the-clock care.
“I made it my mission. I was ‘locked in,’ as the kids would say. I crashed out, and then I locked it in,” she previously wrote in The Cut, and helped him secure support for himself.
Describing her relationship with her ex-husband as complicated, she said his days were divided into 21 shifts, which she helped with.
“There are times that shifts aren’t covered, so I cover them,” Rebecca continued.
“There was a 12-hour shift recently that I could not cover. I could only do four hours because of all the stuff that the kids are doing.”
What did Eric Dane say about his ALS diagnosis?
Throughout his ALS battle, Eric shared statements revealing the toll the disease had taken on him.
In June 2025, he told Good Morning America that his right arm “completely stopped working”, and he couldn’t use his left as much.
“It’s sobering,” he lamented. “I’m fighting as much as I can. There’s so much about it that’s out of my control.”
Throughout his diagnosis journey, he said he felt lost, until he met neurologist and leading ALS researcher, Dr Merit Cudkowicz.
“I’m very hopeful,” he shared at the time. “Yeah, I don’t think this is the end of my story. I’m pretty resilient.
“I just don’t feel like in my heart I don’t feel like this is the end of me.”
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