Celebrity News
Eric Dane Racked Up Substantial Medical Bills During ALS Battle Before Tragic Death at 53 Years Old
Grey’s Anatomy hunk Eric Dane racked up substantial medical bills during his courageous but futile fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a source close to the late star’s family said, per TMZ.
Eric — who played Grey’s Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on the ABC hospital drama — died on Feb. 19 at age 53 from the incurable neurodegenerative disease, which is known to ravage motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord and cause muscle weakness, atrophy and eventually paralysis and death.
Following the Euphoria actor’s passing — which came just 10 months after he revealed his diagnosis — friends launched an online fundraiser that’s topped $425,000 for Eric’s daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, whose mother is actress Rebecca Gayheart, 54.
Model turned makeup mogul Hailey Bieber, Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and producer Brad Falchuk, who spoke with Eric for his posthumously released interview on Netflix’s Famous Last Words, all made five-figure donations to the cause.
However, some bitter observers characterized the effort as a greedy money grab, speculating that Eric had earned big bucks in Hollywood, causing the source to jump to the family’s defense and point out that no one is required to donate.
Days earlier, the grieving family of the late James Van Der Beek had faced similar complaints after a fundraiser for the widow and six kids of the Dawson’s Creek alum raised over $2.7 million following the 48-year-old’s cancer death. Those gripes grew louder amid claims that in January the family bought the $4.8 million Texas home they’d been renting for years.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, James’ friend Mehcad Brooks, known for his roles in And Just Like That, True Blood and Law & Order, fired back in a social media post against one critic, writing: “You have no idea the pain they went through.”
A rep for James says friends helped the ailing performer secure a down payment for the Texas property through a trust.
