Eric Dane breaks down in tears over ALS diagnosis: ‘I don’t think this is the end of my story’

Eric Dane is having his first sit-down interview since admitting he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). On Thursday, June 12, the 52-year-old actor appeared in a preview video for an upcoming feature on Good Morning America, where he discussed his health with Diane Sawyer.

“I wake up every day, and I’m immediately reminded that this is happening,” he said with Sawyer. “It’s not a dream.”

The 30-second video shows Dane and Sawyer holding hands as they discuss life after his diagnosis. It concludes with the Euphoria star falling down in tears, indicating how intense the chat will be.

“I do not believe this is the conclusion of my narrative. I don’t feel like this is the end of me,” he stated.

Dane disclosed his ALS diagnosis to some sources.

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

The actor is married to Rebecca Gayheart, and they have two children, Billie Beatrice (15) and Georgia Geraldine (13).

“I kindly ask that you give my family and me privacy during this time,” he told the magazine PEOPLE.

ALS, often known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare degenerative illness characterized by gradual muscular paralysis. Patients first notice twitching or weakening in a leg, which is commonly followed by slurred speech. According to the Mayo Clinic, because the disease damages nerve cells in the brain and spine that govern muscle function, patients gradually lose the ability to talk, eat, walk, and breathe independently.

According to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, there is no treatment for ALS, and patients typically live three to five years following diagnosis. However, some people can survive for decades.