Eric Dane dies at age 53

Actor Eric Dane, who played Dr. Mark Sloan in the hit TV series "Grey's Anatomy," has died at the age of 53, his family said.

Dane passed away less than a year after discovering he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Dane played a plastic surgeon for 15 years who was nicknamed "McStimmy" by the female characters on the show. He also starred in the series "Euphoria," and after his diagnosis, he said he would still return to the set for its third season.

"Eric Dane passed away on Thursday afternoon after a courageous battle with ALS," his family said in a statement, Reuters reported.

"He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world."

ALS is a progressive disease in which the brain gradually loses its connection to the muscles.

"Throughout his battle with ALS, Erik became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same struggle," the family added.

Dane and his wife, actress Rebekah Gehert, the mother of their two children, separated in 2018 after 14 years of marriage.

However, last March, just before Dane announced his diagnosis, Gehert asked to withdraw her divorce petition, according to People , citing court documents.

Eric William Dane, the older of the two brothers, was born on November 9, 1972, in San Francisco, to an architect father and a housewife mother, according to his biography on the IMDb website.

He had his first television role in the series "The Wonder Years" in 1993, while his big break came in 2005 in "Basic Anatomy." He has appeared in films such as "Marley & Me" and "X-Men: The Last Stand."