Grey's Anatomy actor Eric Dane sparks concern after Emmys absence amid heartbreaking health update

Eric Dane fans have expressed concern after the Greys Anatomy star was absent from the 2025 Emmy Awards last night (Sunday 14 September).

The 52-year-old actor was scheduled to appear on stage with his former co-star Jesse Williams for a special segment to celebrating 20 years of Shonda Rhimes' fictional medical TV show.

However, he pulled out for an undisclosed reason, with Williams presenting the award for Directing for a Drama Series on his own, with no mention of the ABC series.

On the red carpet earlier in the day, Williams, who played Jackson Avery in the series, told Entertainment Tonight that Dane is 'solid' and we need to 'take care of ourselves,' when asked how his co-star inspires him after Dane's recent ALS diagnosis.

Williams said: "I had a really wonderful time working with [Eric] in particular. But the show has just had and continues to have a really remarkable, emotional, intellectual impact on people all over the globe."

Grey's Anatomy's Eric Dane has sparked worry after he missed the 2025 Emmy Awards (Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images)

Speaking of Dane, who played iconic character Dr Mark Sloan between 2006 and 2012, Williams added: "He’s solid. The man’s just solid, and we have to be careful as men to you know, take care of ourselves and he’s got a perfect balance going."

Dane broke the news of his diagnosis of ALS back in April of this year - which stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but is sometimes known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

ALS is the most common type of MND (motor neurone disease) and early symptoms are muscle weakness in the arms and legs that can cause you to trip and drop things, as per the NHS.

It's a rare degenerative disease that sadly worsens over time - something Dane has previously spoken out about.

In a heartbreaking interview in June, the actor revealed that the entire right side of his body that has been most severely affected by his diagnosis.

Breaking down in tears, he told journalist Diane Sawyer during an appearance on Good Morning America: "My left side is functioning, my right side has completely stopped working.

Dane is best known for having played Dr Mark Sloan on Grey's Anatomy (ABC)

"I feel like maybe a couple more months, and I won’t have my left hand either. It’s sobering."

He went on to admit that he's also 'worried' about ALS taking hold of his legs, after realising he could tragically no longer swim.

Dane recalled a moment during a boat trip with one of his daughters, where he jumped in and quickly came to the conclusion it was 'not safe' to do so.

"I realised in the moment that I'm not safe in the water anymore," the actor continued, "She dragged me back to the boat, and I was breaking down in tears."

Now, after his surprise absence from the awards ceremony and the Greys Anatomy tribute no longer going ahead, fans have expressed worry about the actor on social media.

One user wrote on Twitter: "The fact that Eric Dane didn’t show up makes me sad and worried for him tbh."

The actor opened up on his ALS diagnosis for the first time in April this year (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

While a second penned: "Hope Eric Dane is doing well since he didn’t end up showing up at the Emmys."

And a third wrote: "I hope Eric Dane is well. He was scheduled to present with Jesse Williams."

"I thought eric dane was presenting with jesse? hope he’s okay #emmys," added another social media user.

While someone else chimed in with: "Where is Eric Dane I will not fall asleep until I see him #Emmys."

Tyla has contacted a representative for Eric Dane for comment.