Eric Dane Uses a Wheelchair During Rare Public Outing Amid ALS Battle

Eric Dane was spotted using a wheelchair during a recent outing, months after going public with his ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) diagnosis.

The Daily Mail obtained photos and video footage of the 52-year-old actor at an airport in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, September 30. In the clip, Dane was asked to share a message with fans amid his ongoing health battle.

“Keep the faith, man,” the Grey’s Anatomy alum could be heard saying.

Dane was wearing a black T-shirt and pants paired with a dark jacket for his travel day. He completed the look with red and white sneakers, along with a crossbody bag.

Dane went public with his ALS diagnosis in April, sharing the news in a statement to People.

“I have been diagnosed with ALS,” he shared at the time. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”

Eric Dane Speaks in 1st Video About ALS, Shows Progression of His Disease

Dane’s statement continued, “I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week. I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”

The actor’s airport outing on Tuesday came one day after he spoke candidly about using his ALS diagnosis as a way to bring some change when it comes to fighting the disease.

“ALS is the last thing they want to diagnose anybody with,” Dane said during a recent meeting with California congressman Eric Swalwell. “It so often takes all this time for these people to be diagnosed. Well, then it precludes them from being part of these clinical trials.”

He added, “That’s why Act for ALS is so great because it broadens the access for everybody.”

A clip from their discussion was shared via the politician’s social media profiles on Monday, September 29. Dane met with Swalwell, 44, and members of the I AM ALS foundation.

“I wanna ring every bell,” Dane said during their meeting. “I have two daughters at home. I wanna see them graduate college, get married, maybe have grandkids. I wanna be there for all that. So, I’m gonna fight until the last breath on this one.”

Swalwell told Dane that he plans to “do everything” he can to help get federal funding for research to cure ALS.

The actor shares daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, with wife Rebecca Gayheart. (Dane and Gayheart married in 2004. They separated in February 2018 when she filed for divorce, but the couple called off the split earlier this year.)

Eric Dane Details ‘Sense of Hope’ He Feels Amid ALS Battle

Gayheart, 54, recently offered an update on how his family is coping amid Dane’s health battle.

“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,” she told People in an interview published on Saturday, September 27. “I mean, it’s heartbreaking. My girls are really suffering, and we’re just trying to get through it. It’s a tough time.”

She added that their daughters are “taking it day by day.”

Dane recalled discovering his illness during a June appearance on Good Morning America. He told anchor Diane Sawyer that he experienced some “weakness” in his right hand, which led to several neurologist appointments.

“I have one functioning arm. … My left side is functioning. My right side, [which is my dominant side], has completely stopped working,” he said at the time. “[My left arm] is going. I feel like maybe a couple, a few more months and I won’t have my left. … I’m worried about my legs.”