Actor Eric Dane dies at 53, used AI to clone his voice for his children before death

American actor Eric Dane, widely known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan on the TV series Grey's Anatomy, died on February 19, 2026, at the age of 53. The cause of death was amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which was diagnosed in the artist in 2025. Information about the circumstances of his passing and his fight with the disease was provided to the media by his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart. The disease progressed at a rapid pace, affecting the actor's physical abilities in the final months of his life. His family and loved ones were by his side until the very end, ensuring his comfort in the face of the incurable illness. Eric Dane gained international fame for his role as a plastic surgeon in the medical drama Grey's Anatomy, in which he appeared from 2006 to 2012 and made a guest appearance in 2021. Later in his career, he earned critical acclaim for his role as Cal Jacobs in the series Euphoria, where he portrayed a character grappling with a complex identity. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a disease for which there is currently no cure, and the average survival time from diagnosis is typically between two to five years.

In the weeks before his death, Eric Dane began to lose his voice, a direct result of the progressive degradation of the muscles responsible for speech. To preserve the ability to communicate with his two daughters, the actor decided to use artificial intelligence technology to clone the timbre of his voice. This process allowed for the creation of a digital model that enabled him to convey messages even when his natural vocal cords stopped functioning. Rebecca Gayheart revealed that this was an extremely important decision for him, allowing him to maintain the paternal bond during the most difficult time. „Eric knew he was losing his voice, and more than anything in the world, he wanted to be able to keep talking to his daughters. Using AI gave us something that the disease couldn't take away” — Rebecca Gayheart via Variety

Rebecca Gayheart is now actively involved in promoting the AI voice restoration project that Eric Dane supported before his death. This initiative aims to help other people suffering from ALS and conditions leading to loss of speech, offering them access to synthetic voice technology. The actress emphasizes that her husband's experience showed how crucial the ability to speak in one's own, albeit digitally recreated, voice is for a patient's dignity. The project strives to make this technology a standard part of care for terminally ill patients. [{"dataISO": "2025-01-01", "data": "2025", "tytul": "Diagnosis", "opis": "The actor was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)."}, {"dataISO": "2026-01-15", "data": "January 2026", "tytul": "Loss of voice", "opis": "The actor loses his ability to speak and decides to clone his voice using AI."}, {"dataISO": "2026-02-19", "data": "February 19, 2026", "tytul": "Death", "opis": "Eric Dane dies surrounded by family."}, {"dataISO": "2026-03-11", "data": "March 11, 2026", "tytul": "Project support", "opis": "Rebecca Gayheart publicly promotes the AI Voice Restoration Project."}]

In conversations with media outlets such as NPR and Variety, Rebecca Gayheart noted that her husband wanted his battle with the disease to contribute to raising awareness about the needs of people with disabilities. The use of artificial intelligence for humanitarian purposes has become a new mission for her, which she carries out in tribute to her late husband. The actress points out that preserving one's sonic identity is key to the psychological well-being of both patients and their families. Thanks to her involvement, the project is gaining funds for further development and research into improving speech algorithms. Eric Dane: 1. Dr. Mark Sloan (Grey's Anatomy); 2. Cal Jacobs (Euphoria); 3. Jason Dean (Charmed)