Eric Dane made an unexpected absence from television's grandest night. Five months after revealing his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the former "Grey's Anatomy" star was slated to take the stage as a presenter at the 2025 Emmys. Yet, on the evening of September 14, the 52-year-old actor was nowhere to be found at the glitzy Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, leaving his former co-star Jesse Williams to present solo. (For a full rundown of every celebrity who graced the ceremony, click here.)
Earlier this year, Eric—who is a loving father to daughters Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13, with his wife Rebecca Gayheart—opened up about his health struggles. He expressed immense gratitude for the unwavering support of his family as they embarked on this challenging new chapter together. The actor, who is set to reprise his role as Cal Jacobs, Nate Jacobs' father, in the third season of "Euphoria," also shared that beyond his well-being, his focus would stay firmly on his upcoming projects.
"I feel fortunate that I can keep working," he told People in April, referring to the HBO Max series. "I'm really looking forward to coming back." This sentiment has been a recurring theme for Eric in the months since, as he has consistently affirmed his determination to continue working as long as his health permits.
"I'm going to ride this till the wheels fall off," Eric declared to E! News in June, standing alongside his "Countdown" co-star Jensen Ackles. Talking about their Amazon MGM Studios series, he added, "It keeps me sharp. It keeps me moving forward, which is incredibly important right now."
"I feel great when I'm at work," Eric continued, recently shedding light on the heart-wrenching impact ALS has had on his body. "Sure, there have been some setbacks, but overall, I feel pretty good. My spirit remains buoyant, and at the end of the day, that's what truly counts."
