In his final interview recorded months before his death, Grey’s Anatomy actor Eric Dane shared a moving message dedicated to his teenage daughters. During the heartfelt discussion, the actor spoke directly to them, offering guidance to embrace life with enthusiasm while maintaining the strength and resilience needed to navigate its inevitable hurdles.
On February 19, the actor died following a long struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Before his death, he had secretly recorded an interview in November 2025 for the Netflix series Famous Last Words, a project that remained confidential until it was released posthumously.
In the interview’s closing moments, Eric was left alone with the camera to deliver a final, intimate message to his daughters, 15-year-old Billie and 14-year-old Georgia. He shared, “Billie and Georgia, these words are for you. I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried. Overall, we had a blast, didn’t we?”
The actor also grew visibly moved while reminiscing about family trips to the beaches of Mexico, Hawaii, and Santa Monica. Reflecting on those memories, he said, “I see you now playing in the ocean for hours, my water babies. Those days, pun intended, were heaven. I want to tell you four things I’ve learned from this disease, and I hope you don’t just listen to me. I hope you’ll hear me.”
Eric focussed his guidance on the importance of staying grounded in the present moment. He admitted that he had previously wasted significant time “wallowing and worrying in self-pity, shame and doubt”. Reflecting on his past, he shared his regret over the tendency to obsessively second-guess his choices and replay decisions in his mind.
In his first lesson, Eric urged his daughters to focus on living in the moment. His second piece of advice was for them to seek out love in its many forms—clarifying that this didn’t strictly mean a romantic partner, but rather finding a deep passion or anything that brings them genuine happiness.
The Grey Anatomy actor then told his daughters to choose their friends wisely. Eric said he expressed gratitude towards his friends who had all “stepped up” for him in his illness. He mentioned that he couldn’t do any of the things he used to anymore, such as going to the gym, driving around town and getting coffee, but he was grateful to his friends for just showing up.
In his final piece of advice, Eric urged his daughters to fight with everything they have and to never surrender. He told them, “Finally, fight with every ounce of your being and with dignity. 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.”
Eric mentioned that while his daughters are distinct individuals, they both possess his inherent strength and resilience. Referring to this trait as his “superpower,” he said, “I bounce right up, and I keep coming back. 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 Billie and Georgia, you are my heart. You are my everything. Good night. I love you. Those are my last words.”
Eric, 53, died after a year-long ALS battle. His family sought privacy as they mourned the loss of the beloved actor. The late actor was last seen in the American comedy-thriller Borderline.
A PageSix report revealed that actor Johnny Depp supported Eric by providing a rent-free Los Angeles home during his final months. Johnny provided him with a place to stay in one of his Los Angeles properties, allowing him to live rent-free while navigating financial and health struggles, the report claimed.
The actor’s final interview went live on Netflix on February 20, 2026.
