Eric Dane shared two months before his death that he would be releasing a new memoir.
Maria Shriver’s Penguin Random House publishing imprint, The Open Field, announced in December 2025 that Dane’s book, titled Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments, would hit shelves the next year. The project is expected to take a look back at the days of Dane’s life that “have meant the most,” per People.
This will include “when his daughters [Billie Beatrice and Georgia Geraldine] were born, his first day on set on Grey’s Anatomy, the moment he decided to get sober, the day he received his ALS diagnosis, and that hopeful day in the future when ALS is finally cured.”
“I wake up every morning, and I’m immediately reminded that this is real — this illness, this challenge and that’s exactly why I’m writing this book,” Dane said in a statement.
He continued, “I want to capture the moments that shaped me — the beautiful days, the hard ones, the ones I never took for granted — so that if nothing else, people who read it will remember what it means to live with heart. If sharing this helps someone find meaning in their own days, then my story is worth telling.”
Shriver, meanwhile, shared that she was so “honored” to be publishing Dane’s words. She noted that his story was “a courageous one that inspires me deeply.”
“Eric wants to give his daughters and family something to be proud of, and this book will not only make them proud, but it will also help people understand what ALS is and isn’t, what happens to someone when they get it and how we can all be compassionate partners to people suffering with neurological conditions such as this,” Shriver said in a statement.
Two months after the announcement, Us Weekly confirmed that Dane died at age 53.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” his family told Us in a statement. “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world. Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight.”
The message continued, “He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
Dane is survived by his two daughters, whom he shared with estranged wife Rebecca Gayheart. Dane and Gayheart wed in 2004 before separating more than a decade later. She withdrew her divorce petition in March 2025.
The actor later went public with his ALS diagnosis in April 2025. In a statement to People at the time, Dane shared that he was “grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”
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