Eric Dane | 1972-2026
February 20, 2026
We at Target ALS are deeply saddened by the news of Eric Dane’s passing. Eric was living with ALS and had recently joined our Board of Directors, bringing his voice, passion, and commitment to Target ALS.
Though we had only known Eric, or “E,” as so many called him, for the past year, his impact on our community was immediate and profound. From the moment we met him,we experienced his generosity of heart. He didn’t hesitate to ask how he could help, how he could fight, and how he could be part of the solution. Whenever we asked for his support, his response was always the same: “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
Eric and Target ALS founder Dan Doctoroff, who is also living with ALS, quickly became brothers in this fight. Both fathers. Both warriors. Both full of optimism and resolve. Though bound by an insidious disease, they were united by something stronger – a determination to confront ALS head-on and build a world where everyone with ALS lives.
“Eric was a rare soul – special, charming, generous, and loving. I felt a kinship with him from the beginning. Not only because we both shared an ALS diagnosis, but because we both shared a desire to leave the world better than we found it,” says Doctoroff.
Our hearts are with Eric’s wife, his daughters, and all of his family and friends. We cannot begin to imagine the depth of this loss or the space he leaves behind in their lives.
We also recognize that families across the globe experience this heartbreak every day. To lose someone to ALS is devastating and unacceptable. Partnering with Eric was a way to fight back, to accelerate research and advance effective treatments for this disease. At Target ALS, we will carry this work forward in Eric’s honor, and in honor of the many who came before him. We remain steadfast in our mission so that no family has to endure this loss in the future.
We close with words from Target ALS Founder and Board Chair Dan Doctoroff:
“Eric played his part in advancing the ALS fight, and I am grateful to have known him. I only wish we had more time. Rest easy, brother.”
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