Eric Dane fought back tears as he discussed his ALS battle in an emotional TV interview.
The Grey’s Anatomy star, 52, announced in April that he has been diagnosed with the rare degenerative condition, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
It is an incurable disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis of the muscles over time. It has a standard life expectancy of three to five years.
The Euphoria actor teared up as he spoke about coming to terms with the condition during an appearance on Good Morning America in his first interview since the diagnosis.
“I wake up every day and I’m immediately reminded that this is happening. It’s not a dream,” he told presenter Diane Sawyer.
“I don’t think this is the end of my story. I don’t feel like this is the end of me,” the actor added elsewhere in the interview.
At one point, Sawyer asked Dane who he called first after receiving the devastating diagnosis.
The TV star looked tearful as he lowered his head, struggling to give an answer.
Earlier this year, Dane told People: “I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”
He added that he will reprise his role as Cal Jacobs on series three of HBO drama, Euphoria.
“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 star said,
His diagnosis came one month after he and wife Rebecca Gayheart, 53, called off their divorce.
Gayheart - who married Dane in 2004 and shares daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, with him - filed for divorce in 2018 but chose to dismiss their separation in March.
Thr 53-year-old actress said they had “figured out a formula” to stay together as a family.
“We are best of friends. We are really close. We are great co-parents. We really figured out the formula to staying a family and I think our kids are benefiting greatly from it and we are as well,” she told E! News.
“I think it’s important to not look at a relationship that ends as a failure. It's just a season. It wasn't a failure. It was a huge success.
“We were married for, I mean, we are still married, but together for 15 years and we had two beautiful kids so I think that's a successful relationship, and that's how we look at it.”
The actress and former model filed to dismiss her divorce from Dane on March 5, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.
