In an interview recorded months before his death, Eric Dane addressed his final public words to his daughters, Billie and Georgia, speaking directly to the camera after the end of a conversation filmed for Netflix.
The interview, conducted by Brad Falchuk in November 2025, was taped with the understanding that it would only be released after Dane’s death. During the conversation, Dane reflected on his life, his work, and his experience living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a neurological disease that affects muscle control.
“I can feel lonely in a crowded room,” Dane said during the interview. He also spoke about his state of mind while living with the illness, saying, “There’s no reason for me to be happy in any individual moment, but I am.”
At the end of the taping, Falchuk left the stage, allowing Dane to speak uninterrupted. Addressing his daughters, Dane began: “Billie and Georgia, these words are for you. I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried. Overall we had a blast, didn’t we?”
He recalled time spent with his family, saying, “I remember all the times we spent at the beach, the two of you, me and mom — in Santa Monica, Hawaii, Mexico.” He added, “I see you now playing in the ocean for hours, my water babies.”
Dane then outlined what he described as lessons shaped by his illness. “First, live now. Right now. In the present,” he said. “The past contains regrets. The future remains unknown. So you have to live now. The present is all you have.”
Speaking about purpose, Dane told his daughters, “Second, fall in love. Not necessarily with a person.” He continued, “I fell in love with acting. That love eventually got me through my darkest hours.” He said, “My work doesn’t define me, but it excites me.”
On relationships, Dane said, “Third, choose your friends wisely. Find your people and allow them to find you.” He described how his friends supported him as his physical abilities changed, saying, “They don’t do anything special, they just show up.”
In his final message, Dane addressed perseverance. “Finally, fight with every ounce of your being, and with dignity,” he said. “This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit.”
He spoke about resilience, telling his daughters, “You inherited resiliency from me.” Dane closed his message by saying, “Billie and Georgia, you are my heart. You are my everything. Good night. I love you. Those are my last words.”
Dane, known for his role as Dr Mark Sloan, or “McSteamy,” on Grey’s Anatomy, died Thursday at 53. Dane spent his final days with his wife, daughters, and close friends. He starred on Grey’s Anatomy for 15 years and later appeared in Euphoria, intending to return for season three. Born in San Francisco in 1972, Dane began his TV career in the early 1990s and was married to actor Rebecca Gayheart, with whom he had two children.
