People, Positions and Obituaries · 21 February 2026

Eric Dane dies at 53 after Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis.

Exam-focused facts from the 21 February 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

  • Eric Dane passed away following a battle with ALS.
  • He was 53 years old at the time of his death.
  • Dane publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis in April 2025.
  • He was best known for playing Dr Mark Sloan on Grey's Anatomy and Cal Jacobs on Euphoria.
  • He joined the board of Target ALS in December and helped one of its campaigns exceed a $500,000 fundraising target.
  • Time magazine named him one of its 100 most influential people in health for his ALS advocacy.