Eric Dane shares emotional last words for family in final interview released after death
Eric Dane recorded a poignant last interview before his death aged 53, which included his heartbreaking final words to his wife and teenage daughters.
The tragic news broke yesterday (19 February) that the Grey’s Anatomy star has died following an almost year-long battle with ALS.
In a statement to PEOPLE, the family of the star, who was best known for playing Dr Mark Sloan in the medical drama, said he spent his ‘final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the centre of his world’.
Dane announced in April last year that he had been diagnosed with the rare degenerative disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - a degenerative type of motor neurone disease which causes muscle weakness in the arms and legs.
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What he didn’t reveal, though, was that he had secretly recorded a final interview with Netflix as part of their new series Famous Last Words.
The streaming platform announced the one-hour-long episode’s release today (20 February) following his death. The actor recorded it with the understanding that it would only be shared with the world after he passed.
In the episode, Dane sat down with with Brad Falchuk to reflect on his life, career, his battle with ALS, his struggles with addiction, and his marriage to Rebecca Gayheart.
“I will never, by the time anybody sees this, have fallen in love with another woman as deeply as I fell in love with Rebecca,” he said.
Devastatingly, at the end of the Netflix special, the host left the room to allow the Grey’s Anatomy actor to speak to the camera alone and share a message for his daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14.
"Billie and Georgia, these words are for you," he said. "I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried. Overall, we had a blast, didn't we?
“I remember all the times we spent at the beach, the two of you, me, and mom in Malibu, Santa Monica, Hawaii, Mexico, I see you now playing in the oceans for hours, my water babies.
"Those days, pun intended, were heaven," he added.
The actor went on to list four life lessons he wanted them to remember - to live in the present, fall in love, find their people, and fight with every ounce of their being.
"First, live now, right now in the present," he began. It's hard, but I learned to do that. For years, I would wander off mentally, lost in my head for long chunks of time, wallowing in worry and self-pity, shame and doubt.
"I replayed decisions, second-guessed myself. 'I shouldn't have done this. I never should've done that.' No more."
He went on to admit to urge his daughters to 'fall in love'.
"Not necessarily with a person, although I do recommend that as well," he added. "But fall in love with something. Find your passion, your joy. Find the thing that makes you wanna get up in the morning."
In the same way he found acting, he encouraged his girls to 'really go for it', when it come to their dreams.
"Third, choose your friends wisely," Dane continued. "Find your people and allow them to find you, and then give yourselves to them.
"The best of them will give back to you. No judgement. No conditions. No questions asked."
He then took the opportunity to thank all the people who 'stepped up' in his own line when he became unwell.
"Just show up," the star continued. "And love your friends with everything you have. Hang on to them. They will entertain you, guide you support you and some will save you."
Lastly, he told Billie and Georgia never to give up.
"Finally, fight with every ounce of your being and with dignity," Dane continued. "When you face challenges, health or otherwise, fight. Never give up. Fight until your last breath. This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit."
He went on to claim his own resilience has proven his 'superpower' during times of hardship.
"I bounce right up, and I keep coming back," he went on. "I get up again and again and again. Mark says I'm like a cat. Except a cat has nine lives, and I'm on number 15, easily.
"So when something unexpected hits you, and it will, because that's life, fight and face it with honesty, integrity and grace, even if it feels or seems insurmountable."
Dane continued: "I hope I've demonstrated that you can face anything. You can face the end of your days. You can face hell with dignity. Fight girls, and hold your heads high."
Beginning to tear up, the star then finishes his statement by telling his daughters: "Billie and Georgia, you are my heart. You are my everything.
"Good night. I love you. Those are my last words."
Topics: Celebrity, Grey's Anatomy, US News, Health
Madison Burgess