Actor Eric Dane, 52, Says He's Experiencing Paralysis From ALS

Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane says he's now experiencing a loss of function in his body as he battles ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

In an interview televised Monday with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, the 52-year-old said the right side of his body has "completely stopped working" and his left arm is "going." ​

Dane announced his ALS diagnosis in April. ​​ALS is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic. ALS is also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the famous New York Yankees baseball player was diagnosed with it in the 1930s.

Dane shared details with Sawyer of how the disease is progressing.

"I feel like maybe a couple, few more months, and I won't have my left hand [functioning] either," Dane said.

The actor also said he's "worried" his legs may stop functioning soon.

Dane said he noticed something was wrong with his body when he started experiencing "weakness" in his right hand. He didn't think anything of it and attributed it to "texting too much" or "fatigue."

"But a few weeks later, I noticed it had gotten a little worse, so I went and saw a hand specialist, who sent me to another hand specialist," the Euphoria actor recalled.

It wasn't until he saw two neurologists that he learned of his ALS diagnosis.

"I'll never forget those three letters," Dane said.

The reality of his ALS diagnosis struck when he was on a boat trip with his 13-year-old daughter. Dane, a former competitive swimmer, said that when he jumped into the water, he realized he couldn't get back to the boat without assistance.

"I realized in that moment, I'm not safe in the water anymore," Dane said.

His daughter "dragged" him back to their boat, and Dane "broke down in tears."

When Sawyer asked Dane who he communicates with when things "hit hard," Dane visibly choked up.

"I call Rebecca," he said. Dane and actress Rebecca Gayheart were married in 2004, then separated in 2018, but have since reconnected.

They share two daughters.

He said he talks to Rebecca "every day" and calls her his "biggest champion."

Dane didn't mince words when asked about how he truly feels about the sobering diagnosis.

"I'm angry because, you know, my father was taken from me when I was young," Dane said. "And now, you know, there's a very good chance I'm going to be taken from my girls while they're very young." Ultimately, Dane wants to continue to "spend time with my family" and "work a little bit if I can."​Following an ALS diagnosis, a person has a life expectancy of 2 to 5 years. ALS also affects muscle groups throughout the body. Neurons in the body slowly deteriorate as ALS progresses. ​​ ​​There is no cure for ALS. ​​ ​​Risk factors associated with ALS are based on genetics, age and sex. ALS is most common in people between the ages of 60 and mid-80s. ​​ ​​When someone is treated for ALS, it doesn’t reverse the symptoms, but it can slow down the progression of the disease. Medications including Riluzole and Edaravone are generally prescribed to ALS patients.

Other areas of treatment include breathing treatments and various forms of therapy. ​​​​