Eric Dane got standing ovation for playing ALS patient on ‘Brilliant…
Art imitated life during Eric Dane’s visitor look on “Brilliant Minds.”
The 53-year-old actor, who’s battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), performed a firefighter with the same disease during Monday’s episode of the NBC medical drama.
The present’s creator, Michael Grassi, told USA Today that Dane filming the scene the place his character, Matthew Rimati, involves time period with how you can share his diagnosis along with his household was “so emotional.”
Eric Dane in “Brilliant Minds.” Pief Weyman/NBC
Eric Dane, Chloe Avakian and Mädchen Amick in “Brilliant Minds.” Pief Weyman/NBC
“I have never seen this happen in my entire career, but he essentially got a 10-minute standing ovation after shooting that scene,” Grassi revealed.
“Because it was so beautiful and so honest and so real,” he added.
“Brilliant Minds” creator Michael Grassi. JSquared Photography/NBCUniversal
Eric Dane utilizing a motorized wheelchair in West Hollywood on October 30. Roger / BACKGRID
Zachary Quinto and Eric Dane in “Brilliant Minds.” Pief Weyman/NBC
Grassi also acknowledged that it was brave of Dane to do the present amid his ALS battle.
“While his character’s finding bravery, there’s a lot of bravery in Eric to tell the story as well,” Grassi acknowledged. “To come out and share this part of yourself is vulnerable but also really important, and I think raises awareness and shows people that they’re not alone.”
Eric Dane, Zachary Quinto in “Brilliant Minds.” Pief Weyman/NBC
Zachary Quinto, Eric Dane, Mädchen Amick in “Brilliant Minds.” Pief Weyman/NBC
Dane announced in April that he was identified with ALS.
The “Grey’s Anatomy” alum, who has been left wheelchair certain, is being cared for by his spouse, Rebecca Gayheart. The mannequin, 54, called off her divorce from Dane after his diagnosis earlier this 12 months. They share daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13.
Grassi told USA Today that Dane’s team reached out about the look. At the time, Grassi was coping with his circle of relatives “health emergency,” which led to him and Dane discussing how households’ navigate health crises.
Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart at the forty third AFI Life Achievement Award Gala in June 2015. Getty Images for AFI
Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart with their daughters at the sixteenth Annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball in 2017. WireImage
“There’s no rule book,” said Grassi. “There’s no right way or wrong way to do it. And in our conversations, something that he was dealing with very much in real time, and I was dealing with in my life, and a lot of people deal with every day is: How do you navigate, how do you communicate, and how do you accept help?”
Grassi added that Dane was “a joy” to work with on the episode, which was filmed last month.
Eric Dane as Matthew Ramati in “Brilliant Minds.” Pief Weyman/NBC
“His spirit was so collaborative and so open,” Grassi shared. “What was really fun was every time we would call ‘Cut,’ and we would finish shooting a scene, there was so much laughter and banter between Eric and our cast.”
“Brilliant Minds” stars Zachary Quinto as a neurologist who has prosopagnosia, a condition also often called face blindness. The solid also consists of Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Spence Moore II and Tedd Sears.
Since revealing his diagnosis, Dane has been open about his battle with the debilitating disease.
Eric Dane in an ALS message. iamalsorg/Instagram
Eric Dane seen out in Los Angeles on September 16, 2025. Bruce/Javiles / BACKGRID
“My left side is functioning, my right side has completely stopped working,” he revealed on “Good Morning America” in June. “[My left arm] is going. I feel like maybe in a couple more months, I won’t have my left hand either. It’s sobering.”
In September, Dane needed to skip presenting at the 2025 Emmy Awards because he misplaced his steadiness shortly before the ceremony and break up his head open.
Most just lately, Dane vowed to “fight to the last breath” during a gathering with lawmakers in Washington, DC in October.
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