Eric Dane’s recent death has renewed global attention on ALS and the many famous figures who have lived with the disease. From Stephen Hawking’s decades-long survival to modern advocates, their stories continue to shape awareness and research.
Stars who battled ALS
The news of Eric Dane’s passing has left Hollywood shaken and it has also reopened painful conversation about a disease that has quietly touched many famous lives over the decades. As tributes pour in for the beloved ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star, fans are once again talking about ALS.
Before we dive into the list of stars who have faced this illness head-on, let’s take a closer look at what ALS really is.
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a terminal neurodegenerative disorder. It slowly destroys nerve cells responsible for muscle movement. At first, symptoms may seem small. A twitch, stiffness, weakness. But gradually, the disease progresses robbing a person of the ability to walk, eat, speak and even breathe.
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Despite medical advancements that can slow symptoms, there is still no cure. The disease has been known publicly since baseball legend Lou Gehrig revealed his diagnosis in 1939 and died two years later in 1941.
Since then, many famous names across sports, music, science and film have lived and sometimes died in the public eye while battling ALS.
And now, with Eric Dane’s death in February 2026, that list has grown once again.
For millions of TV fans, Eric Dane will always be remembered as Dr. Mark Sloan aka McSteamy on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, and later as the complicated father Cal Jacobs on ‘Euphoria’. Behind the scenes, however, the actor was facing a very real battle.
In April 2025, at age 52, Eric Dane revealed he had been diagnosed with ALS. In his statement, he thanked his family for standing by him and said he still planned to continue working. He even expressed excitement about returning to the set of ‘Euphoria’.
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He also politely requested privacy as his family navigated the difficult chapter. Less than one year later, on February 19, 2026, a representative confirmed his death at age 53.
When discussing ALS, one name always stands out: Stephen Hawking. The theoretical physicist began showing symptoms in 1963 and was initially given just two years to live.
Instead Hawking lived for more than five decades with a slow-progressing form of ALS. He continued groundbreaking research, delivered lectures, wrote books and became a global symbol of perseverance until his death in 2018 at age 76.
Five-time Grammy winner Roberta Flack spent decades captivating audiences with classics like ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ and ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song’. But ALS eventually forced her to retire from singing in 2022 as the disease made performing impossible. She passed away in February 2025 at age 88.
Kenneth Mitchell, best known for his role in the CBS series “Jericho,” revealed in February 2020 that he had ALS. Instead of stepping away from acting, he adapted. He incorporated his wheelchair into his character in ‘Star Trek: Discovery’. Mitchell died in 2024 at age 49.
Animation fans were heartbroken when Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, announced his ALS diagnosis in 2017. He passed away just a year later in 2018 at age 57. The 2020 film ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run’ was dedicated to him.
Unlike many others on this list, Brooke Eby is still actively fighting the disease and documenting every step. Diagnosed in 2022, she turned to social media to share honest updates about ALS progression. She has lost the use of both legs and now uses a wheelchair, with arm function also beginning to slow.
Actor Aaron Lazar, known for roles in “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “J Edgar,” revealed in January 2024 that he had actually been diagnosed with ALS two years earlier.
John Driskell Hopkins, a founding member of the Zac Brown Band, was diagnosed with ALS in 2021 and publicly revealed it in May 2022. He said in a 2024 interview that he would “sing through it.” He also launched the organisation Hop On a Cure to raise funds for ALS research.
Mike Porcaro of the rock band Toto retired in 2007 when muscle weakness made playing difficult. He publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis in 2010 and died in 2015 at age 59.
Kim Shattuck, lead vocalist and guitarist of punk band The Muffs, continued making music almost until her final days. In a touching tribute, the band released an album just 16 days after her death in 2019 at age 56.
Country music fans were stunned when it was revealed that Joe Bonsall of The Oak Ridge Boys had ALS. He retired in January 2024 due to a neuromuscular disorder, which was only disclosed as ALS after his death in July 2024 at age 76.
From scientists and singers to actors and athletes, ALS has crossed industries and generations. Some, like Stephen Hawking, lived with it for decades. Others, like Eric Dane and Catfish Hunter, saw the disease move swiftly.
A few, like Brooke Eby and John Driskell Hopkins, continue to fight publicly.
Even today, there is still no cure. Treatments can slow progression and manage symptoms. But ALS remains terminal. That is why many celebrities who face it choose to speak openly turning personal tragedy into public awareness.
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