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The Bay Area has been home to many of Hollywood’s famous actors, including “Grey’s Anatomy” star Eric Dane, who died on Feb. 19 at the age of 53. Growing up in the Peninsula, Dane attended Sequoia High School in Redwood City from 1987 to 1990 before transferring to San Mateo High School during his senior year.
While he was at Sequoia, Dane went by his stepfather’s last name: Feldman. He can be spotted in Sequoia High yearbooks that include his time on the school’s water polo team.
Dane also played baseball with the San Carlos Little League team in 1985, according to a social media post. Dane reportedly caught the acting bug after performing in a production of “All My Sons” while attending San Mateo High. In 1991, Dane booked his first onscreen role as a volleyball player on “Saved by the Bell.”
In November 2024, he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The fatal condition affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, impacting muscle control and has an average life expectancy of two to five years after diagnosis. People Magazine recently reported that Dane’s cause of death was respiratory failure.
After his diagnosis, Dane became an advocate for the ALS community, partnering with nonprofit Target ALS to launch “Ending ALS Starts with You,” a campaign to raise $500,000 for research by December 2025. The successful campaign raised over $670,000.
He also served as a spokesperson for I AM ALS, an advocacy organization, and its three-year campaign called “Push for Progress,” which aims to raise money to accelerate research, expand access to therapies and secure more than $1 billion in federal funding for research. The organization has exceeded its goal and raised over $200,000.
“Eric used his platform not for attention, but for action,” wrote I AM ALS in a statement after Dane’s death. “His impact will live on in the research being funded, the policies being advanced, and the community he helped grow by his honesty, his bravery, and his belief in a better future for anyone struggling with this diagnosis.”
Dane was also named Advocate of the Year by the ALS Network in September 2025.
With nearly 50 productions under his belt, Dane was best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan, also known as “McSteamy,” on the medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy.” He’s also highly recognized for his role as Cal Jacobs on the HBO series “Euphoria” and as Tom Chandler on “The Last Ship.” Dane also appeared in movies such as “Marley & Me,” “X-Men: The Last Stand” and “Valentine’s Day.”
Dane is survived by his wife Rebecca Gayheart and their daughters Billie and Georgia. A GoFundMe made in his honor has already raised over $476,000. For more information visit gofundme.com/f/in-honor-of-eric-dane.
