WASHINGTON — “Grey’s Anatomy” star Eric Dane recently shared why he missed out on the 2025 Emmy Awards.

In an interview published on Oct. 2 by the Washington Post, Dane revealed he was hospitalized after suffering a fall shortly before the award show. Dane has been battling ALS, a progressive neurological disorder.

Dane was originally scheduled to present at the Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, alongside his former “Grey’s Anatomy” co-star Jesse Williams. The telecast was meant to honor the show’s 20th anniversary, but Dane was notably absent. 

The 52-year-old shared that he lost his balance and fell in his kitchen, resulting in the hospitalization.

“ALS is a nasty disease. … So I was in the hospital during the Emmys getting stitches put in my head,” Dane told the publication. “I missed an opportunity I was really looking forward to. It would have been great to see Jesse and get reunited with some of my peers, and to be able to present in front of my colleagues I thought would have been a special moment. So I was a really upset about it, but you know, there was nothing I could do about it.”

Last week, Dane met with U.S. Rep.. Eric Swalwell of California in Washington D.C as he advocated for a “bold” plan to accelerate ALS research.  In the meeting, he pitched the “Push for Progress” plan where the organization is rallying to secure $1 billion in funding for ALS research over the next three years. 

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. According to the National Institutes of Health, the disease causes motor neurons to deteriorate, leading to muscle weakness and eventual paralysis.

“I’m gonna ring every bell. I have two daughters at home. I want to see them, you know, graduate college, get married, maybe have grandkids. I want to be there for all that,” Dane said in a video posted to Swalwell’s TikTok. “I’m gonna fight till the last breath on this one.”

Dane is married to Rebecca Gayheart and they have two children — 15-year-old Billie Beatrice and 13-year-old Georgia Geraldine. 

His speech was slightly slurred, which is a common symptom of ALS.

There is currently no cure for ALS, though some treatments may slow progression and improve quality of life.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that people with ALS typically live three to five years after symptoms develop, with younger patients generally living slightly longer.

Dane’s visit to Capitol Hill comes nearly six months after he announced his diagnosis. At the time, he revealed his “right side has completely stopped working,” and said it’s only a matter of time before his symptoms worsen. 

“It’s sobering,” he said about the diagnosis in an interview with GMA. 

Krys Shahin contributed to this report.