Eric Dane delivered an emotional message to his daughters, Billie and Georgia, in what became his final public interview. The segment aired Friday in Netflix’s documentary series What Happens Later, just one day after the actor’s death.

Dane, best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy, faced the camera with raw honesty. "My girls, I love you more than anything in this world," he said, according to the nearly hour-long episode. He urged them to live fully despite his looming absence. The words struck viewers hard, coming months after Dane, then 52, shared his ALS diagnosis publicly.

In April 2025, Dane posted on Instagram about the incurable neurodegenerative disease. "I’ve been diagnosed with ALS," he wrote. "It’s a tough road, but I’m fighting." Symptoms had started earlier, with muscle weakness and speech difficulties forcing him off sets. Friends and family rallied around him in Los Angeles, where he lived with wife Rebecca Gayheart and their children, ages 15 and 13.

The documentary captured Dane at his Berkeley home during filming last fall. He discussed fatherhood amid decline. "Daddy’s not going to be here forever," he told Billie and Georgia off-camera, then on. Producers said the interview showed his strength. Netflix streamed the episode globally, drawing tributes from co-stars.

Ellen Pompeo, his Grey’s Anatomy colleague, posted on X: "Eric was pure heart. Rest in peace." Patrick Dempsey echoed the sentiment. Fans flooded social media with memories of Dane’s brooding charm on the medical drama from 2006 to 2012. His film roles in X-Men: The Last Stand and Marlowe also resurfaced.

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, erodes motor neurons. Average survival post-diagnosis is three years, according to the ALS Association. Dane’s case advanced rapidly. He stopped walking unaided by December and relied on a ventilator by January, sources close to the family said.

Rebecca Gayheart issued a statement Friday. "Eric fought bravely," she wrote. "He leaves a legacy of love." A private funeral is planned in California. The couple, married since 2004, weathered public scrutiny after a 2018 DUI arrest but stayed committed.

Dane’s documentary appearance spotlights ALS struggles. The episode includes experts on treatments like Relyvrio, approved in 2022 but later pulled amid failed trials. Fundraising spiked post-release, with the Healey ALS Center noting a 20% donation uptick Saturday.

Viewers praised Netflix for airing the raw footage. "Heartbreaking but beautiful," one commented online. Dane’s words to his daughters now comfort millions grappling with loss.