Hollywood Raises $415K for Eric Dane's Family After ALS

When actor Eric Dane passed away from ALS last Thursday, his Hollywood family stepped up in a powerful way to support the people he loved most.

The Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria star leaves behind his wife, fellow actor Rebecca Gayheart, and their teenage daughters Billie and Georgia. Within days, a GoFundMe campaign organized by close friends raised more than $415,000 to provide financial stability for his family.

Among the 3,600 donors, Euphoria creator Sam Levinson contributed $27,000. The campaign temporarily paused over the weekend for standard verification, but GoFundMe quickly confirmed the effort was legitimate and listed Dane's family as beneficiaries.

Dane had publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis less than a year ago. The degenerative neuromuscular disease, which often leads to paralysis, progressed far faster than anyone expected.

Even as his health declined, Dane remained dedicated to his work and family. He filmed Euphoria's third season in a wheelchair, determined to complete the role that showcased his dramatic range beyond his earlier heartthrob days.

Why This Inspires

What makes this story powerful isn't just the money raised. It's what Dane chose to do with his final months.

He dedicated himself to raising awareness about ALS. He showed up for his daughters, attending their beach volleyball games, dance recitals, and yes, even multiple viewings of The Nutcracker (which he joked "drones on, man").

In a posthumously released Netflix interview on Famous Last Words, Dane spoke directly to Billie and Georgia. He told them he hoped they remembered his presence in their lives, not his absence in death.

His message to them was simple but profound. He wanted them to fall in love with something, whether a person or a passion, that made them excited to wake up each day.

"I hope you won't just listen to me," Dane said to his daughters. "I hope you'll hear me."

The fundraising campaign's organizers called his daughters "the center of his world." Now, with support from thousands who admired their father, these girls have a financial foundation as they navigate life without him.

In choosing to share his diagnosis publicly and advocate for ALS awareness even as he was dying, Eric Dane gave his daughters one final gift: a father who faced the end with courage and purpose.