San Jose, California, 20 February 2026 (dpa/MIA) - US actor Eric Dane, best known for his role in the television series "Grey's Anatomy," has died at the age of 53, US media reported Thursday.

"He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world," the New York Times quoted his spokeswoman Melissa Bank as saying.

In April 2025, Dane revealed that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an incurable neurodegenerative disease. His illness brought his acting career to an abrupt end.

Dane rose to international fame portraying surgeon Mark Sloan, nicknamed "McSteamy," on "Grey's Anatomy." After six years on the medical drama, he took on the lead role of a US Navy captain in the post-apocalyptic series "The Last Ship." From 2019, he appeared in the HBO production "Euphoria."

He also featured in several films, including "X-Men: The Last Stand," "Marley & Me," "Valentine's Day" and "Bad Boys: Ride or Die."

ALS affects the central and peripheral nervous systems, causing progressive muscle weakness, speech and swallowing difficulties and eventually paralysis.