Eric Dane spent months searching for answers after noticing something was wrong with his right hand. But before doctors confirmed that the actor had ALS, he was given a different diagnosis.
The revelation comes from Dane’s posthumous memoir, My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments, which was released November 3.
Dane first noticed a problem on January 7, 2024.
“I’m eating sushi with my kids and suddenly I can’t work the chopsticks with my right hand. My hand tingles, and then my fingers feel numb,” he recalled in the memoir, according to People.
He suspected the symptoms might be related to “texting too much,” and initially dismissed it as “some kind of weird nerve thing,” hoping it would disappear on its own.
“Three weeks later, it happens again, only worse. I can’t grip the chopsticks at all,” he explained.
Eric Dane was misdiagnosed
That was when Dane began seeking medical help.
“First, I saw a hand specialist, who passed me off to another hand specialist, who sent me to a neurologist.”
The neurologist initially suspected neuropathy but eventually acknowledged that the case was beyond his expertise. Dane was later referred to another physician as the investigation continued.
Eventually, doctors reached what Dane described as a ‘diagnostic consensus’: multifocal motor neuropathy, or MMN.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, “MMN is a rare autoimmune condition that causes slowly worsening muscle weakness. It typically starts in your hand and wrist, but can also begin in your leg. MMN is manageable with IVIG therapy, but it’s typically chronic (long-term).”
For Dane, the diagnosis initially came with some hope. Unfortunately, the treatment didn’t work, and his doctors soon began to explore other possible causes. Dane recalled that his primary care physician eventually addressed the subject directly.
“We’ve been discussing ALS. But we have to wait and see.”
Symptoms of ALS
It would take another nine months before Dane received confirmation. In 2024, doctors diagnosed him with ALS. He described the moment as receiving a ‘death sentence’.
“I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter. … I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time,” he said in a public statement in April 2025.
The actor’s death was announced on February 19.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” his family said in a 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. 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.”
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