Grey’s Anatomy heartthrob Eric Dane holds back tears in first interview since revealing ALS diagnosis

Actor Eric Dane has held back tears as he opened up about his life with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — ALS — after being diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease earlier this year.

The American heartthrob, more recently known for his role in Euphoria, became emotional in a preview for an upcoming interview about his health, set to be aired on Good Morning America on Monday.

“I wake up every day and I’m immediately reminded that this is happening,” the actor said in a teaser clip for his interview with Diane Sawyer.

“It’s not a dream,” Sawyer then says to Dane, which he repeats back.

Despite the crushing diagnosis, Dane reveals in the short video that he’s still optimistic about the future.

“I don’t think this is the end of my story,” Dane tells Sawyer.

“I don’t feel like this is the end of me”.

Dane, well known for being cast in Grey’s Anatomy as Mark Sloan, better remembered by his show nickname ‘McSteamy’, revealed his health update in an exclusive interview with People in April.

“I have been diagnosed with ALS,” the 52-year-old said at the time.

The Mayo Clinic describes ALS as a nervous system disease that “affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord” and also “causes loss of muscle control and gets worse over time”.

An estimated 30,000 people in the US are living with the disease, which currently has no cure. The estimated prevalence of ALS worldwide is about 5 per 100,000 people.

When he shared his health news, Dane said he would keep acting while he could.

“I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to the set of Euphoria next week,” he told People.

After sharing the news, Dane called for privacy for his wife Rebecca Gayheart and their two daughters, Georgia and Billie.

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

“I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”