But the role he took on during his last year was the most meaningful one.
After Eric Dane, who acted in 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Euphoria,' opened up about his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in April 2025, he didn't step back from the public eye as he fought the disease.
Instead, he used the fame he had built through his Hollywood career to bring more attention to ALS.
Eric didn't wait to start helping.
He worked with groups like Target ALS and I AM ALS to spread awareness and push for more research about this rare and serious illness.
At Target ALS, he joined their Board of Directors and became the face of their "Ending ALS Starts with You" campaign, helping raise over $500,000 in 2025 to speed up research for treatments.
For I AM ALS, he became an ambassador and helped start their "Push for Progress" campaign in September, aiming to get $1 billion in federal funding for ALS over the next three years.
In October 2025, Eric traveled to Washington, D.C., with I AM ALS leaders to talk to lawmakers about increasing federal support for ALS research.
He also pushed for the reauthorization of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act, which was set to expire in 2026. He met with lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, to stress the need for more funding.
Beyond his work with nonprofits, Eric also combined his acting career with his activism.
He appeared in a season two episode of the NBC medical drama 'Brilliant Minds,' where he played Matthew, a firefighter struggling to tell his family about his ALS diagnosis and later facing challenges as the disease progressed.
The show's creator, Michael Grassi, said they wanted to honor Eric and tell his story truthfully, without making it dramatic.
The episode was co-written by Daniela Lamas, a doctor, and included input from ALS doctors and writers who had family members with the disease. Grassi emphasized the importance of being accurate when talking about ALS, especially since there's no cure yet, but people are working hard to find one.
Eric died on Feb. 19 after a long fight with the disease.
He had first noticed symptoms a year and a half before making his diagnosis public.
After his passing, I AM ALS released a statement saying, "Eric used his platform not for attention, but for action.
From the moment he joined I AM ALS, he showed up with courage and conviction, asking how he could use his superpowers to help the movement grow. It was an honor to brainstorm with him, to walk alongside him in the halls of Congress on behalf of our community, amplify the urgent need for ACT for ALS and research funding, and drive toward treatments and, ultimately, a cure. He understood that ALS is not just a diagnosis; it is a call to action for families, for answers, and for change."
The organization continued, "Eric brought humility, humor, and visibility to ALS and reminded the world that progress is possible when we refuse to remain silent.
Eric was more than a supporter of our mission—he was part of our family. His impact will live on in the research being funded, the policies being advanced, and the community he helped grow by his honesty, his bravery, and his belief in a better future for anyone struggling with this diagnosis. We honor Eric by continuing the work he believed in so deeply: mobilizing communities, driving critical research, securing essential funding, and fighting relentlessly for real solutions. Our thoughts are with his loved ones and our entire community. I AM ALS will carry his legacy forward—until ALS is no more."
Target ALS also shared a statement, saying, "Though we had only known Eric, or 'E,' as so many called him, for the past year, his impact on our community was immediate and profound.
From the moment we met him, we experienced his generosity of heart. He didn't hesitate to ask how he could help, how he could fight, and how he could be part of the solution. Whenever we asked for his support, his response was always the same: 'I'll do whatever I can to help.'"
The organization added, "We also recognize that families across the globe experience this heartbreak every day.
To lose someone to ALS is devastating and unacceptable. Partnering with Eric was a way to fight back, to accelerate research and advance effective treatments for this disease. At Target ALS, we will carry this work forward in Eric's honor, and in honor of the many who came before him. We remain steadfast in our mission so that no family has to endure this loss in the future."
Eric Dane's final onscreen performances will be in Euphoria season three and Family Secrets.
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