It’s mega-watt star power. 

Zendaya, Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney are Gen-Z’s biggest superstars – making the “Euphoria” cast so stacked, it’s bonkers as it returns for Season 3 on Sunday. When the HBO series premiered in 2019, they didn’t have their current A-lister status.

The teen drama has arguably been a stronger star maker than bigger shows like “Saturday Night Live” or “Game of Thrones,” even though it didn’t technically “make” all of its mega-watt stars.

“Euphoria changed my life,” Elordi, 28, told Variety in 2023.  

“Saltburn” was his big screen breakout that same year. According to Vogue Australia, at the time, his future “Wuthering Heights” co-star Margot Robbie (who produced “Saltburn”) suggested him for the role because she saw him in “Euphoria.” 

Prior to playing troubled jock Nate, he starred in the 2018 Netflix flick, “The Kissing Booth.”

It was a viral phenomenon, so he wasn’t completely unknown.

But a teen romance is a far cry from how he later went on to star in prestige projects from creme de la creme filmmakers like Guillermo Del Toro (2025’s “Frankenstein”) and Sofia Coppola (2023’s “Priscilla”), and became Emerald Fennell’s muse (in 2023’s “Saltburn” and 2026’s “Wuthering Heights”). 

Before “Euphoria” put him in front of Hollywood tastemakers, Elordi could have had Noah Centineo’s career  – he’s doing fine, but he isn’t getting nominated for Oscars, or rumored to be the next James Bond.

In 2023, the actor told GQ UK that before landing on the HBO show, “I wasn’t booking jobs. I think I had – I don’t know, $400 or $800 left in my bank account – and ‘Euphoria’ was my last audition before I went home for a little while to make some money and recuperate.”

Compared to Elordi, “Euphoria” didn’t launch Zendaya to the same degree.

The actress, 29, had a successful career as a child star on Disney Channel, and she’d already made a splash on the big screen in two 2017 blockbusters ( “The Greatest Showman” opposite Hugh Jackman, and a big superhero flick, “Spider Man: Homecoming”).

Her “Euphoria” performance as the drug addict Rue earned her two Emmys, and positioned her for the more adult roles she went on to do later, like 2024’s “Challengers.”

In 2019, she told Elle that the show made her more confident.

“People actually saying I did a good job at my craft… it’s like, ‘Damn, I did work hard. I’m glad you see that,’” she said. “I should finally own that; it’s liberating. I feel lucky.”

Without “Euphoria,” she’d likely still be in big popcorn movies like the “Dune” franchise and Christopher Nolan’s upcoming “The Odyssey.”

But, she might not have the clout to carry a controversial indie movie like “The Drama” and elevate it to a respectable box office performance. 

Similarly, Sweeney, 28, was climbing the ranks of Hollywood even before she played the insecure, over-sexualized Cassie on “Euphoria.” 

She was in the trendy 2018 HBO miniseries “Sharp Objects” with Amy Adams, and she was also in “The Handmaid’s Tale” that same year.

After “Euphoria,” she went on to her current career, in flicks like 2023’s “Anyone But You” and 2026’s “The Housemaid” (not to mention, her status as a cultural lightning-rod for off-screen controversies like her 2025 American Eagle jeans ad and her bathwater soap). 

At the Season 3 premiere on April 7, Sweeney told Extra that she had “no idea” how the show would impact her career, and these days, she “definitely” reflects on how the show catapulted the cast to stardom. “It’s been a wild ride,” she said.  

Gen-Z stars aside, the “Euphoria” cast also includes the Oscar-nominated Colman Domingo, 56. He already had a long career before the show, but it earned him an Emmy and elevated him to further prominence, as he’s become an awards show staple.

So, Elordi is the cast member that the show truly “made,” but it does deserve credit for assembling them all together — and catapulting them.

It’s especially impressive, compared to other shows with reputations for launching talent.  

“Euphoria” has a measly two seasons (and a third forthcoming). “SNL” has a slew of famous alums, but it’s been around since the ‘70s. Considering “Euphoria’s” much-shorter lifespan, it’s remarkable that it launched three zeitgeist-defining mega stars.

“Game of Thrones” was also a bigger show than “Euphoria.” But although its stars Kit Harington, Maisie Williams, and Sophie Turner have gone on to respectable careers, they’re not A-listers, trendsetters, award season darlings in the same way that Zendaya, Sweeney, and Elordi are. 

“Euphoria’s” capacity to be a starmaker is as wild as its plot, and that’s its biggest legacy. 

“Euphoria” Season 3 premieres Sunday, April 12 at 9 pm on HBO. 

Natasha Lyonne resurfaced in Manhattan on Thursday, two days after she was reportedly removed from a Delta flight in Los Angeles that was bound for New York.

On Tuesday night, Lyonne, 47, drew attention by going bra-less underneath a transparent top at two star-studded red carpets in Los Angeles – the season three premiere of Euphoria and the 2026 Fashion Trust US Awards.

She reportedly boarded a plane later that night, but was asked to exit after she was unresponsive to flight attendants instructing her to fasten her seatbelt and close her laptop before takeoff, according to Page Six.

Eyewitnesses claimed Lyonne – who admitted three months prior that she had broken her sobriety of nearly a decade – was asked if she need ‘medical attention’ and eventually advised that the aircraft was ‘not going anywhere until you come off it.’

Lyonne was scheduled to make an appearance the following day – Wednesday – on The Drew Barrymore Show in New York but was unable to appear.

However, by Thursday evening, she had made her way across the country and appeared at Lincoln Center for the premiere of the documentary Lorne.

The movie was a profile of Lorne Michaels, the creator of Saturday Night Live, which served as a launchpad for the stardom of Lyonne’s ex Fred Armisen.

In contrast to her revealing outfits at Tuesday’s red carpets, Lyonne opted for a sedate ensemble of a black skirt suit with 1980s shoulder pads.

She let her signature fiery mane down and wore a severe expression as she strode the red carpet on a towering set of monochrome high-heeled boots.

Hours before the premiere, she broke her silence on her absence from Barrymore’s show with a tweet that neglected to explain why she missed the taping.

‘My heart is with all the unpaid TSA agents at our airports,’ she wrote. ‘Sure was looking forward to speaking honestly with @DrewBarrymore yesterday but guess wasn’t in the cards.’ 

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Lyonne, Barrymore, and her show for comment but have not yet heard back. 

Lyonne was said to have appeared disoriented on the Delta flight from which she was allegedly removed Tuesday evening.

She was sitting in first class and still in some of the clothing she wore at the premiere when the drama began, according to Page Six.

A witness observed Lyonne receiving instructions from multiple flight attendants, and the actress was reportedly dozing off during the mishap.

She was heard telling staff after apparently getting startled at one point: ‘Ah! You scared me!’

The staff were eventually able to retrieve her laptop and the plane taxied onto the runway before it returned to the gate, where a Delta staffer boarded to speak to Lyonne.

‘Ma’am, do you need medical attention?’ the employee reportedly asked Lyonne. ‘Ma’am, I need you to come off the plane. Do you need help with your belongings?’

‘Where are we?’ she was heard asking.

‘We’re still in LA. The plane hasn’t gone anywhere,’ they said. ‘The plane is not going anywhere until you come off it.’

According to Page Six, Lyonne ‘coolly shushed’ the staffer before heading towards the bathroom and coming out snacking on a bag of pretzels.

She departed the plane obediently after her luggage was removed.

The captain later revealed they had dealt with a passenger who was unable to follow ‘basic commands’ as they addressed the more than hour-long delay for travelers waiting to get to New York.

‘We have a passenger who, for whatever reason… wouldn’t follow some basic commands… We had a passenger who didn’t seem up to the task tonight, so that’s why they were asked to be booked on another flight,’ the captain reportedly said.

‘I do apologize for the inconvenience, but we will get you to New York as quickly and as safely as possible.’

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Lyonne for comment but did not immediately hear back. Delta declined to comment.

According to TMZ, Lyonne was scheduled to appear on The Drew Barrymore Show the following day but failed to make it.

Earlier in the evening, she had shocked fans when she walked the red carpet flashing her braless bust in a mesh top, as she plugged her role in Euphoria.

The incident comes three months after she revealed she suffered a relapse.

‘Took my relapse public, more to come,’ Lyonne told her 545,000 followers, who showered her with support.

‘Thanks, boss … for the grace, etc.,’ the actress wrote in response to one bolstering comment. ‘Sending love back your way. May become a pothead or a nun. TBD.’

Lyonne didn’t give an exact time frame of when the relapse occurred or how, but she stressed that ‘recovery is a lifelong process.’

‘Anyone out there struggling, remember you’re not alone,’ her written message continued on Saturday, January 24.

‘Grateful for love and smart feet. Gonna do it for baby Bambo. Stay honest, folks. Sick as our secrets.’

The Orange Is The New Black alum added: ‘If no one told ya today, I love you. No matter how far down the scales we have gone, we will see how our experience may help another. Keep going, kiddos. Don’t quit before the miracle. Wallpaper your mind with love. Rest is all noise and baloney.’

To one devotee, she wrote, ‘Love ya back,’ and to another, she confided, ‘We need better systems and to end shame — bill the Sacklers and stilettos or something but don’t @ me for getting honest.’

She was referring to the notorious Sackler family, known for owning Purdue Pharma, which developed the highly addictive pain medication OxyContin and amassed billions from its sales.

Last year, the company was forced to cough up a $7.4 billion settlement for its role in the current opioid epidemic.

In March, she offered an update on her sobriety journey: ‘Proud to report this kid is doing a whole lot better & back on her feet,’ she posted to X.

Lyonne, who completed rehab in 2006, previously spoke about her downward spiral into drug and alcohol addiction in a candid interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2012.

‘Spiraling into addiction is really, really scary,’ she said. ‘Some things have a very A-to-B scientific effect. Like, alcohol is a depressant. Cocaine is a stimulant. And then: Cocaine plus heroin is bad! That’s the point of my story, that’s the moral. Coke plus heroin equals speedball. And speedball equals bad, you know?

‘It’s weird to talk about,’ she said at the time. ‘I was definitely as good as dead, you know? A lot of people don’t come back. That makes me feel wary and self-conscious. I wouldn’t want to feel prideful about it. People really rallied around me and pulled me up by my f***ing bootstraps.’

Lyonne was making headlines in the early to mid-2000s but not the nice kind: a drunk-driving arrest, a run-in with a neighbor resulting in a court appearance, hospitalization for hepatitis C, a collapsed lung, infective endocarditis and later open-heart surgery to correct damage done.

In 2006, at age 27, she checked into an inpatient rehab for treatment for her drug and alcohol abuse.

‘Eventually, I made it through those dark nights of the soul,’ Lyonne told The Times in 2024.

Lyonne has seen a career resurgence in her 40s, and recently she has shifted her focus away from starring roles to directing, writing and producing, such as the 1980s-set boxing film Bambo.

By JENNIFER RUBY

Published: 03:16 EDT, 9 April 2026 | Updated: 08:15 EDT, 9 April 2026

Sydney Sweeney clung to boyfriend Scooter Braun on Tuesday night after the Euphoria premiere in Los Angeles.

The 28-year-old actress modeled a caped white dress with a thigh-grazing hemline that flashed her long legs.

Braun, 44, contrasted his girlfriend in a monochrome black suit, shirt, and dress shoes.

The couple held hands, interlocking their fingers while exiting the famed Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.

Sweeney rounded out her form-fitting frock with a pair of sparkly silver pointed-toe heels.

Her long blonde locks were styled in a side part with one side falling over her chest in a subtle wave. 

Videos shared by The Hollywood Reporter and Vanity Fair on Tuesday showed the loved-up pair subtly displaying affection at the event.

One video showed the actress reaching for the talent manager’s hand after they exited the vehicle they arrived in.

Another brief clip showed them share a kiss inside Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre. 

Braun took to Instagram late Tuesday night to repost a video of Sweeney on the red carpet. He captioned, ‘Congrats to @sydney_sweeney and the entire @euphoria team.’

The couple’s connection was sparked at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s Italian wedding in June 2025.

Prior to Braun, Sweeney dated Jonathan Davino for several years. They got engaged in 2022 and then ended the engagement in March 2025.

Braun, meanwhile, was married to health activist Yael Cohen from 2014 until their divorce was finalized in September 2022. They share three children.

The outing came as an insider told Us Weekly Wednesday that Sweeney and Braun’s romance ‘has become very serious,’ coming as a surprise to some in their inner circles.

‘People around them thought that this would be just a fling, but they are committed,’ the insider said. ‘They are the real deal’ and ‘basically inseparable when they are both in’ Los Angeles. 

The insider noted that both ‘are slowly integrating their families and blending their lives, making the relationship more serious.

‘Sydney is a hopeless romantic at heart and likes being in a committed relationship.’

Euphoria’s characters are placed five years in the future in the final season of the Sam Levinson drama, which began in 2019 with the cast in high school.

Levinson explained the time jump at an HBO event in London last year: ‘Five years felt like a natural place because if they’d gone to college they’d be out of college at that time.’

Per The Hollywood Reporter, he added, ‘We basically pick up Rue [Zendaya] south of the border in Mexico, in debt to Laurie [Martha Kelly], trying to come up with some very innovative ways to pay it off.’

While appearing on The Tonight Show in late 2025, Sweeney reflected on wrapping up filming the show in November.

‘It was super bittersweet because most of the crew I had worked with since I was 20, when I did the pilot,’ the actress told host Jimmy Fallon. ‘So every single time I’d go back, I felt like I was going home and I was getting to see everybody … they’re a part of [my] family.’

And in a 2025 interview with Empire magazine, Sweeney gushed about her Euphoria character Cassie: ‘I have such a spot in my heart for Cassie, and I hold her really close and dear.’ 

Zendaya appeared to confirm her rumored marriage to Tom Holland at the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The 29-year-old actress was reportedly overheard graciously accepting a flurry of well wishes from fellow A-listers at the star-studded gala, a source told People. 

The Euphoria star also seemingly hinted at being married to Holland, 29, after showing what looked to be her wedding band to the camera, when she was asked for ‘a sign’ about her private life by the event’s host, Marsai Martin. 

While on the red carpet she flashed two rings on her left wedding finger. She made no effort to hide her gold bands as she smiled for the camera while offering photographers a selection of sultry poses. 

One ring was a Rolling Ring, which has also been called a Trinity Ring or a Russian wedding ring. The other ring was a thin gold band which looked like a typical American wedding band. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Zendaya and Holland for comment. 

She has been dating Holland since 2017. While they met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016, they kept their romance private for years before confirming it. 

This comes after her longtime stylist Law Roach claimed she and Holland have already said ‘I do’ during a red carpet interview at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards this month. 

On Thursday, the star modeled a bridal white Eugene Alexander minidress with gold accents that had a large material flower on the side. It was the same dress Sarah Jessica Parker wore in the 2008 Sex and the City movie.

A long version of the dress was also previously worn by Whitney Houston in the late 1980s, according to Vogue.

Zendaya added pointy white pumps as she went bare-legged.

The looker also had a cute hairstyle with her locks appearing shorter than usual and curly for a fun spring feel. 

Two days ago Zendaya flashed a gold ‘wedding band’ as she led the stars arriving at Louis Vuitton’s Paris Fashion Week show. She added a silver ring which was not at all like the Rolling Ring she flashed on Thursday 

The TV and movie star looked incredible in a bridal white skirt with an a-symmetric hemline. 

She paired it with a matching shirt with an elongated collar and cinched her waist with a chunky black belt.  

Zendaya seemingly wore a gold wedding band in recent promotional photos for her upcoming film The Drama amid marriage rumors with Holland.

Weeks earlier, the actress had also been spotted with a subtle gold band on her ring finger instead of her diamond sparkler during an outing in Beverly Hills.

Zendaya’s stylist Roach said on March 1 that she had married Holland in secret.

The actress has been engaged to Holland since late 2024 and now it’s been suggested the pair have tied the knot in private away from the cameras.

Law dropped the bombshell news during an appearance on the red carpet at the Actor Awards in Los Angeles, telling Access Hollywood: ‘The wedding has already happened. You missed it.’

When asked if that is ‘true,’ Law, replied: ‘It’s very true!’

The news has yet to be confirmed by the couple’s representatives, but they have both been keen to keep their relationship out of the spotlight.

They first sparked dating rumors in 2016 but the relationship wasn’t confirmed publicly until 2021 when they were pictured sharing a kiss.

The couple confirmed their engagement in September 2025 when Tom referred to Zendaya as his ‘fiancée’ during a panel event.

Tom has previously insisted the pair are determined to keep their romance private because it has ‘nothing to do with’ their acting careers.

He told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘Our relationship is something that we are incredibly protective of and we want to keep as sacred as possible.

‘We don’t think that we owe it to anyone, it’s our thing, and it has nothing to do with our careers.’

Zendaya shared similar comments in an interview with GQ, declaring the couple’s relationship is ‘sacred’ and she wants to keep it that way.

She explained: ‘The equal sentiment [we both share] is just that when you really love and care about somebody, some moments or things, you wish were your own.

‘I think loving someone is a sacred thing and a special thing and something that you want to deal with and go through and experience and enjoy amongst the two people that love each other.’

The actress expanded on her view in an interview with Elle magazine, saying: ‘I can’t not be a person and live my life and love the person I love. You can’t hide. That’s not fun either. I am navigating it more than ever now.

By ASHLEIGH GRAY

Published: 20:37 EST, 6 March 2026 | Updated: 23:30 EST, 6 March 2026

“Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson and his wife, Ashley, donated a generous $27,000 to a fundraiser for Eric Dane’s daughters, Billie and Georgia, following his death.

The GoFundMe campaign, which was created by friends of the Dane family, sits at $171,555 with the Levinson’s contribution, as of Saturday morning.

The fundraiser was created with a goal of $250,000.

It was reported that a crowd-fundraiser had been started to help Dane’s teenage daughters on Friday, just one day after the actor died.

“Following his diagnosis, Eric became a passionate spokesperson for the [amyotrophic lateral sclerosis] ALS community, using his voice and platform to advocate for fellow patients and to push for greater awareness. Even as his own health declined, he remained deeply committed to helping others facing the same devastating disease,” reads the campaign description.

“As his illness progressed far more quickly than anyone could have imagined, Eric’s friends have come together to create this GoFundMe to support his girls and their future needs.”

After his death, several of Dane’s former “Euphoria” and “Grey’s Anatomy” co-stars honored the actor with touching tributes.

In a statement to Page Six, Levinson said he was “heartbroken” over the loss of his “dear friend.”

“Working with him was an honor. Being his friend was a gift,” he continued. “Eric’s family is in our prayers. May his memory be for a blessing.”

Dane died Thursday at the age of 53 following a battle with ALS.

“He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife [Rebecca Gayheart], and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world,” his family confirmed in a statement to People.

“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.”

The family noted that the “Grey’s Anatomy” alum “adored his fans” and “is forever grateful” for the love and support he’s received over the years. They’ve asked for privacy at this “impossible time.”

In the new Netflix series “Famous Last Words,” which was released on Friday only hours after his death was announced, Dane was able to share his final words to his daughters.

“I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried. Overall, we had a blast, didn’t we?” he started, before sharing one last lesson for his girls.

“I hope you won’t just listen to me, I hope you’ll hear me,” he began. “First, live now, right now in the present. It’s hard, but I learned to do that.”

“For years, I would wander off mentally, lost in my head for long chunks of time, wallowing in worry and self-pity, shame and doubt,” the “Charmed” alum continued. “I replayed decisions, second-guessed myself. ‘I should have done this. I never should’ve done that.’ No more.”

Eric Dane’s celebrity friends and former castmates have been left heartbroken over his death at age 53, with Ashton Kutcher and Selma Blair leading emotional tributes to the late actor. 

The Euphoria star’s passing was confirmed by his loved ones on Thursday in a statement to People – less than one year after he announced his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis. 

Dane was known for a multitude of roles throughout his Hollywood career, including his portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan (also known as McSteamy) on Grey’s Anatomy. 

Kutcher took to X shortly after learning the devastating news of Dane’s passing and wrote, ‘The Franklin strip fanatics fantasy football league will miss Mr. Eric Dane.

‘We know you’ll be watching from the booth. Miss you, buddy. Let’s keep fighting the fight to solve ALS.’ 

Kutcher and Dane had previously starred together on the 2010 rom-com film Valentine’s Day. 

Blair reposted a clip to her Instagram stories from @eric_dane_fan which showed her and Dane in the show Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane.

In text added towards the top of the reel, the actress – who is currently battling multiple sclerosis (MS) – wrote, ‘I love you. And yours.’

Blair was referencing to a scene in the series where their characters accidently took each other’s books. 

Nina Dobrev shared a message to her Instagram stories alongside a behind-the-scenes image of Dane. The pair had previously worked on the 2022 movie Redeeming Love.

She penned, ‘Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Eric. He was warm, generous, prepared, and so passionate about what he did.

‘He led with kindness and made everyone on our set feel seen. ALS is a cruel and unforgiving disease.’ 

The Vampire Diaries alum added, ‘May his memory inspire more research, awareness, and progress toward a cure. He will be deeply missed. Sending love and heartfelt condolensces to his family.’ 

Sam Levinson – the creator of the HBO Max series Euphoria – has also broken his silence on the late star’s death. Dane had played the role of Cal Jacobs on the series.

‘I’m heartbroken by the loss of our dear friend Eric. Working with him was an honor,’ Levinson told Variety.

‘Being his friend was a gift. Eric’s family is in our prayers. May his memory be for a blessing.’

Alyssa Milano also took to Instagram to share a moving tribute to Dane – whom she starred with on the series Charmed. 

‘I can’t stop seeing that spark in Eric’s eye right before he’d say something that would either make you spit out your drink or rethink your entire perspective.’ 

She added, ‘He had a razor-sharp sense of humor. He loved the absurdity of things. He loved catching people off guard.

‘And when it came to his daughters and Rebecca, everything in him softened. He carried them with him even in rooms where they weren’t present. You could see it in the way his voice changed when he said their names. A breathtakingly beautiful family.’ 

Milano also recalled that Dane had ‘convinced me to get my pixie cut and my nose piercing. 

‘He also was with me on the walk when we found Lucy, my beloved rescue chihuahua. He called me “Milano,” as if it was the only part of my name that mattered.’

The actress concluded with, ‘My heart is with the people who were lucky enough to be his home.’ 

Milano also uploaded a photo of Dane with his family as well as a throwback image of them on Charmed. 

Maria Shriver additionally penned a moving tribute on Instagram alongside a black and white photo of the late actor. 

‘I’m heartbroken by this devastating news about Eric Dane. What a tragedy. He was so heroic the way he handled his diagnosis. He used his voice to let the world know what it was like living with ALS.’

She continued, ‘I was honored he chose my publishing imprint to publish his memoir. He told me he wanted his family to know how much he loved them, and he wanted to leave them a story they could be proud of. 

‘My love goes out to his family, and to all those battling this cruel disease, as well as all those caring for someone battling it. Godspeed, Eric. It was an honor to know you, and we will honor your story. ♥️.’

Late last year in December, it was revealed that the actor had been set to release a memoir about the challenges of ALS.

Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments was announced to be be released under Shriver’s The Open Field, a subset of Penguin Random House, sometime in 2026 – although an official date had yet to be confirmed.

Grey’s Anatomy star Kevin McKidd reposted an image of Dane on the hit medical drama series with the text: ‘Rest in peace buddy.’

John Stamos penned a tribute on Instagram as he penned, ‘RIP, Buddy. Me and @realericdane played brothers years ago in a beautiful movie called, Wedding Wars. Good guy. Too soon. Xo J.’ 

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

‘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.’ 

They added, ‘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. 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.’

The award-winning actor is survived by his two teenage daughters, Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13, and his wife, Rebecca Gayheart.

ALS is ‘a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord’ and can ’cause loss of muscle control,’ per Mayo Clinic. 

Dane announced his diagnosis with the disease last year in April. 

By June, he revealed to ABC News – in what would become his final interview before his death – that he had lost the function of his right arm and hand.

‘I I feel like maybe a couple, few more months, and I won’t have my left hand [functioning] either,’ Dane told Diane Sawyer.

The TV star added that he was worried about his impending inability to use his legs, which he said was ‘sobering.’

By September, Dane was in a wheelchair.

In the same interview, he said he first began noticing symptoms of what was later diagnosed as ALS more than a year earlier.

‘I didn’t really think anything of it at the time. I thought maybe I’d been texting too much or my hand was fatigued,’ he recalled. 

‘But a few weeks later, I noticed it had gotten a little worse, so I went and saw a hand specialist, who sent me to another hand specialist.’

After he was referred to two different neurologists, Dane was finally diagnosed with ALS. ‘I’ll never forget those three letters,’ he declared.

Dane, who was born in San Francisco on November 9, 1972, suffered an early tragedy when his father died by suicide, leaving Dane’s mother to raise him and his brother by herself, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

His early acting credits include appearances in Saved By The Bell, The Wonder Years, Roseanne and Married… with Children, but his big break came in 2000 when he was cast in a recurring role in Gideon’s Crossing. 

He then went on to land the role of Jason Dean in Charmed.

In 2005, Dane made a fateful guest appearance on Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Mark Sloan.

His character garnered such an overwhelming response from viewers in his debut episode that he was promoted to a series regular for the show’s third season.

Dane went on to appear on the medical drama until the eighth season, when his character resigned, although he returned fleetingly in season nine before Dr. Mark was killed off.

More recently, Dane starred as Jacob Elordi’s on-screen dad in the HBO series, Euphoria, which premiered in 2019.

In April, he confirmed that he would be returning to the show as Cal Jacobs for its third and final season.

His other recent film work includes roles in Redeeming Love (2022), the Will Smith and Martin Lawrence–starring Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024), One Fast Move (2024) and Borderline (2025). 

Dane also took on a guest role as a firefighter with ALS in an episode of Brilliant Minds which aired late last year.

Eric Dane, who was catapulted to fame after starring as the heartthrob McSteamy on Grey’s Anatomy, has died at 53.

The actor’s death was announced on Thursday, less than a year after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

‘With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,’ his family said in a statement to People on 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,’ they continued. ‘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. 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,’ their statement concluded.

The award-winning Euphoria actor is survived by his two teenage daughters, Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13, and his wife, Rebecca Gayheart.

ALS is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to loss of muscle control and paralysis as it gets worse over time, per the Mayo Clinic. 

Following his death, a bevy of stars, including Ashton Kutcher and Nina Dobrev, rushed to social media to pay tribute to Dane.

The actor announced his diagnosis with the disease in April. By June, he revealed to ABC News — in what would become his final interview before his death — that he had lost the function of his right arm and hand.

‘I feel like maybe a couple, few more months, and I won’t have my left hand [functioning] either,’ Dane told Diane Sawyer.

The TV star added that he was worried about his impending inability to use his legs, which he said was ‘sobering.’

By September, Dane was in a wheelchair.

In the same interview, he said he first began noticing symptoms of what was later diagnosed as ALS more than a year earlier.

‘I didn’t really think anything of it at the time. I thought maybe I’d been texting too much or my hand was fatigued,’ he recalled. ‘But a few weeks later, I noticed it had gotten a little worse, so I went and saw a hand specialist, who sent me to another hand specialist.’

After he was referred to two different neurologists, Dane was finally diagnosed with ALS. 

‘I’ll never forget those three letters,’ he declared. 

Dane, who was born in San Francisco on November 9, 1972, suffered an early tragedy when his father died by suicide, leaving Dane’s mother to raise him and his brother by herself, according to Deadline.

In a 2014 interview with Gulf Times, Dane revealed that he initially had no interest in acting.

Instead, he was focused on sports in high school, where he played on the water polo team, but his life changed when he ‘got roped’ into playing the lead role in a production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons after his season ended early.

The experience gave Dane the acting bug, and he never looked back.

He went on to drop out of high school just a month before graduation and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in Hollywood.

‘I moved down here with 40 bucks in my pocket and took about three or four acting classes a week and tried to figure out what it was about this thing that I liked so much,’ Dane recalled.

He shared with People in a 2014 interview that his early career was complicated by his wild streak.

‘I ended up partying for the next eight years,’ he admitted. ‘I got into a lot of trouble.’

His early acting credits include appearances in Saved By The Bell, The Wonder Years, Roseanne and Married… with Children, but his big break came in 2000 when he was cast in a recurring role in Gideon’s Crossing.

He then went on to land the role of Jason Dean in Charmed.

In 2005, Dane made a fateful guest appearance on Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Mark Sloan.

His character garnered such an overwhelming response from viewers in his debut episode that he was promoted to a series regular for the show’s third season. 

‘In the moment, it was just another scene to me,’ he recalled to Sawyer in June. ‘I just remember walking out of a bathroom with a very nice [effects] gentleman blowing smoke [to create steam] toward me.’ 

Dane went on to appear on the medical drama until the eighth season, when his character resigned, although he returned fleetingly in season nine before Dr. Mark was killed off. 

In 2024, Dane revealed on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast that he had left Grey’s Anatomy due to the show’s tightening budget.

‘I wasn’t the same guy they had hired. So I had understood when I was let go,’ he said. ‘And [series creator] Shonda [Rhimes] was really great. She protected us fiercely. She protected us publicly. She protected us privately. … But I was probably fired. 

‘It wasn’t ceremoniously like, “You’re fired.” It was just like, “You’re not coming back,”‘ he explained.

In the same interview, he revealed that he had gone to rehab during his stint on Grey’s Anatomy due to an addiction to painkillers.

‘If you take the whole eight years on Grey’s Anatomy, I was f***ed up longer than I was sober. And that’s when things started going sideways for me,’ he shared. ‘It was overwhelming, and I think I just wanted to pretend that it wasn’t and that I was comfortable with it. Act like you’ve been there, but you haven’t been there.’

Despite having been killed off, Dane’s character returned one more time in 2022’s season 17, when series lead Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) met him on a beach during a hallucination while she was in a coma brought on by a battle with Covid-19.

More recently, Dane starred as Jacob Elordi’s on-screen dad in the HBO series, Euphoria, which premiered in 2019. 

In April, he confirmed that he would be returning to the show as Cal Jacobs for its third and final season. 

‘I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to [the] set of Euphoria,’ he said in a statement to People.

On the big screen, Dane appeared in an array of huge titles, including Marley & Me (2008), Burlesque (2010) and Americana (2023).

In 2010, he starred alongside Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, and Bradley Cooper in the romcom Valentine’s Day.

His other recent film work includes roles in Redeeming Love (2022), the Will Smith and Martin Lawrence–starring Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024), One Fast Move (2024) and Borderline (2025).

He also played an FBI agent last year in the Amazon Prime Video series Countdown.

Also in 2025, Dane appeared in Jimmy Warden’s directorial debut, Borderline with Samara Weaving and Ray Nicholson.

Dane had been open about his declining health, first revealing his ALS diagnosis in April.

‘I have been diagnosed with ALS,’ he told People at the time. ‘I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.’

In his interview with Diane Sawyer for Good Morning America in June, Dane spoke about how he was processing his health battle.  

‘I wake up every day, and I’m immediately reminded that this is happening,’ he said. ‘It’s not a dream.’ 

Dane’s wife, Gayheart, also opened up about how their family was dealing with his ‘heartbreaking’ diagnosis.

She said that their teenage daughters were talking to therapists as their father battled with the progressive neurodegenerative disease.

‘I mean, it’s heartbreaking,’ she told People. ‘My girls are really suffering, and we’re just trying to get through it. It’s a tough time.

‘We have some professional therapists who are helping us, and we’re just trying to have some hope and do it with dignity, grace and love.’

Dane and Gayheart wed in 2004. They were married for 14 years before she filed for divorce in 2018. However, the pair called off the split seven years later, and they remained married until his death.

Dane announced his diagnosis just a month after Gayheart requested to dismiss her divorce filing.

‘I mean, we’re definitely dealing with something that has brought us all together, and Eric will always be my family, whether we’re married or not, or living in the same house or not, but yeah, we are closer, but we don’t like the reason why,’ she said. ‘It’s a horrible disease, and I wish that there was a cure. I hope they find one soon, because it is just so sad.’ 

In September, Dane was notably absent from the Emmy Awards despite a previously announced appearance to reunite with his Grey’s Anatomy costar Jesse Williams to present an award.

Williams ended up presenting alone onstage and made no mention of Dane’s absence.

A day later, Dane made a virtual appearance as he revealed a partnership with the nonprofit organization I AM ALS.

In the video, he encouraged people to donate to the cause to find a cure.

‘I’m Eric, an actor, a father, and now a person living with ALS,’ he said in the video.