Eric Dane did not appear for a scheduled "Grey's Anatomy" tribute during the 2025 Emmy Awards, after revealing an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis earlier this year.
Dane, 52, was expected to join former co-star Jesse Williams onstage for a segment marking 20 years of Shonda Rhimes' long-running medical drama. Williams instead presented the award for Directing for a Drama Series alone and made no reference to Dane or to "Grey's Anatomy" during his remarks.
On the red carpet earlier in the evening, Williams told Entertainment Tonight that he had been looking forward to the tribute and spoke warmly of his former co-star, calling Dane "my guy" and praising the show’s global impact. Representatives for Dane did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Page Six.
Dane announced in April that he had been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and leads to loss of muscle control. In a June interview with Diane Sawyer on "Good Morning America," Dane described the progression of the disease, saying his right side had stopped working and that his left arm remained the only functioning limb. He said he expected his remaining arm and hand to lose function within months and that he was also concerned about losing use of his legs.
Despite the prognosis, Dane said in the interview that he did not view the diagnosis as the end of his story and that he was "fighting as much as I can." He has continued professional work, beginning production on Season 3 of HBO's "Euphoria" shortly after announcing his diagnosis; he is set to reprise his role as Cal Jacobs.
Dane starred on "Grey's Anatomy" for six seasons from 2006 to 2012 and has remained publicly engaged with friends and family since his announcement. He and his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, called off their divorce weeks before he disclosed his diagnosis; Dane has said the two maintain a close friendship and co-parenting relationship and that he speaks with Gayheart daily. The couple share two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13. Dane has also been photographed with girlfriend Janell Shirtcliff at recent events.
Organizers of the Emmy ceremony programmed several tributes and anniversary segments for television series marking milestone years; the planned "Grey's Anatomy" remembrance was one of several moments to reflect on long-running shows. The Emmy presentation proceeded with winners and presenters on the broadcast; neither the Television Academy nor ABC issued an immediate statement regarding Dane's absence from the tribute.
Dane's disclosure has drawn renewed attention to ALS, a disorder for which there is currently no cure. His public account of symptoms and continuing work in television have been widely reported since his announcement in April.