Sydney Sweeney & 'Euphoria' Cast Pay Tribute To The Late Eric Dane

Actress Sydney Sweeney and the rest of the "Euphoria" cast are paying tribute to the late Eric Dane after his death at age 53. His tragic passing comes one year after he first announced that he was diagnosed with ALS.

In “Euphoria,” Eric Dane played the role of Jacob Elrodi’s father, Cal, since season 1. He announced his ALS diagnosis shortly before the show began production on its final episodes. Shortly after his tragic passing, several of the show’s stars took to social media in order to pay tribute to their late costar.

Sydney Sweeney was one of the first to comment, sharing a video of Eric Dane on her Instagram Stories. She wrote, “Forever will love you,” next to a red heart emoji. Barbie Ferreira also reshared a clip of Eric Dane, adding a white heart emoji to her Instagram Story.

Sam Levinson, the creator of the HBO series, also released a short statement following Dane’s passing. “I’m heartbroken by the loss of our dear friend Eric. Working with him was an honor,” he said. “Being his friend was a gift. Eric’s family is in our prayers. May his memory be for a blessing.”

A spokesperson for HBO also paid tribute to Dane in a statement, writing, “We are deeply saddened by the news of Eric Dane’s passing. He was incredibly talented, and HBO was fortunate to have worked with him on three seasons of Euphoria. Our thoughts are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”

Despite his struggles with ALS, Dane said in a November 2025 panel discussion in conjunction with I AM ALS that he wanted to keep working until the end.

“I’m not about to concede my purpose to some disease. I just am not capable of doing that,” he said at the time. “I have no reason to be in a good spirit at any time, on any given day. I don’t think anybody would blame me if I went upstairs in my bedroom, crawled under the sheets, and spent the next two weeks crying. And I was a little bit pleasantly surprised when I realized that I wasn’t built like that, because I thought for sure that was gonna be me.”

In addition to his role in “Euphoria,” Eric Dane was also known for his role in “Grey’s Anatomy.” Series creator Shonda Rhimes also paid tribute to the actor in a thoughtful Instagram statement.

“Eric Dane was a beloved member of the Shondaland and Grey’s Anatomy families. He was truly a gifted actor whose portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan left an indelible mark on the series and on audiences around the world,” she wrote alongside photos of the two posing together.

She went on to write, “We are grateful for the artistry, spirit, friendship and humanity he shared with us for so many years. Our hearts are with his family, loved ones, and all who were touched by his work.”

Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane played Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd and Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on "Grey's Anatomy.”

The day after Dane passed away, Dempsey had a guest appearance on "The Chris Evans Breakfast Show.” Dempsey revealed he woke up that morning to find out that Dane had passed away, and had difficulty putting into words what he was feeling.

Dempsey said that he had been texting with Dane a week before his death, and some of their friends had visited the actor. According to Dempsey, Dane had already struggled with his speech at that time.

"He was bedridden and it was very hard for him to swallow, so the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly," Dempsey shared.

On Thursday, February 19, 2026, the actor’s family confirmed that the beloved actor had passed away.

"With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS," his family said in a brief statement. "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."

"Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always,” they continued. “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.”