Nov 9, 1972 – Eric Dane is born in Northern California, loses his Navy‑veteran architect father at age 7, moves to Los Angeles after high school and lands early guest spots on shows such as Saved by the Bell and Charmed [6].

2004 – He marries actress Rebecca Gayheart, a partnership that later endures separation and a dismissed divorce filing but remains intact at his death [4].

2006–2012 (and 2021) – Dane portrays Dr. Mark Sloan (“McSteamy”) on Grey’s Anatomy, becoming a household name and later returning for a cameo in season 17 [1].

2017 – His battle with clinical depression forces a temporary shutdown of production on TNT’s The Last Ship, highlighting personal health struggles [13].

2019 – He debuts as Cal Jacobs, the conflicted father in HBO’s Euphoria, a role he continues through multiple seasons [3].

Apr 2025 – Dane publicly announces his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), thanking his family and pledging to use his platform for advocacy [1].

Jun 2025 – He speaks at a Washington, D.C., health‑insurance pre‑authorization conference, urging policy changes for ALS patients [6].

Sep 2025 – The ALS Network honors him as Advocate of the Year for his relentless fundraising and public‑awareness efforts [6].

Sep 2025 – He launches a three‑year, $1 billion federal research campaign, leveraging his celebrity to press Congress for increased ALS funding [2].

Sep 2025 – Dane appears in an Instagram fundraising video that helps a campaign exceed its $500,000 target, amplifying public support for ALS research [1].

Oct 2025 – He travels with I AM ALS to Washington to lobby for renewal of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act before its five‑year expiration [3].

Nov 2025 – Dane dramatizes his ALS battle as a firefighter on the medical drama Brilliant Minds, describing the role as both challenging and cathartic while stressing awareness needs [2].

Dec 2025 – He joins the board of Target ALS, where his involvement helps the organization surpass its $500,000 fundraising goal and further expands his advocacy reach [1].

Nov 2025 – He completes filming for Euphoria season 3, wrapping production ahead of its scheduled spring 2026 release [4].

2026 (late) – His memoir Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments is set for publication by The Open Field imprint of Penguin Random House, aiming to share his life’s pivotal moments and raise ALS awareness [6].

Feb 19, 2026 – Eric Dane dies at age 53 from ALS, surrounded by wife Rebecca Gayheart and daughters Billie and Georgia; his representatives request privacy while noting his final months of advocacy [9].

Feb 2026 (post‑death) – A posthumous interview airs on Netflix’s Famous Last Words, where Dane declares “when the lights go out, it’s over,” offers a farewell to his daughters, and reiterates his commitment to ALS funding [5].

Apr 12, 2026 – Euphoria season 3, featuring Dane’s final performance as Cal Jacobs, premieres on HBO, marking his last on‑screen appearance [4].

2026 (future) – Additional episodes of Famous Last Words are planned, with producer Brad Falchuk indicating five conversations have been recorded and more to come, extending Dane’s legacy [5].

2030 (projected) – CDC estimates ALS cases will rise to over 36,000 in the United States, underscoring the growing urgency of the research funding campaign Dane championed [7].

2024 – The ALS drug Relyvrio is withdrawn from the U.S. market after controversy over ALS Association financing, illustrating the limited treatment options that motivated Dane’s advocacy [7].