Eric Dane Launches ALS Research Campaign In ‘Heartbreaking’ Video Showing Progression of His Disease

Days after missing a planned appearance at the Emmy Awards to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Grey’s Anatomy, Eric Dane released a new video of himself on Instagram.

“I’m Eric, an actor, a father, and now a person living with ALS,” the Euphoria star, 52, says in the video posted on Tuesday, September 16, in which he announced a new campaign in conjunction with the I Am ALS advocacy group to accelerate research and secure $1 billion in federal funding.

“For over a century, ALS has been incurable and we’re done accepting the status quo,” Dane, who announced his diagnosis in April, added. “We need the fastest path to a cure.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells, causing loss of muscle control and slurred speech, which fans noticed in Dane’s video.

“The progression was so fast,” one fan commented, while another added, “It’s as if he’s struggling with speaking. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to see how fast he has changed for the worst.”

Dane had previously opened up about living with ALS.

“I have one functioning arm. My dominant side, my left side, is functioning. My right side has completely stopped working,” the father of two told Good Morning America’s Diane Sawyer in June, adding that he only has “a few more months” before his left arm and hand give out as well. “It’s sobering.”

Dane had been scheduled to present the award for Directing for a Drama Series alongside former Grey’s co-star Jesse Williams at the Emmys on September 14, per Page Six. Instead, Williams presented the award alone.

In his video, Dane urged fans to “get involved” by visiting iamals.org/progress.