A GoFundMe campaign launched by close friends of late actor Eric Dane has raised its fundraising goal to $500,000, as supporters strongly defend the effort amid public scrutiny.
The Grey’s Anatomy star’s death was confirmed by his family in a statement to People on Thursday, less than a year after he revealed his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
ALS—also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease—impacts the brain and spinal cord, gradually weakening muscles and leading to paralysis. At present, there is no cure.
Dane is survived by his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two teenage daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13.
Following his death on Friday, friends quickly organized the GoFundMe to help provide financial support for his children. The original fundraising target of $250,000 has since been doubled, with donations reaching nearly $244,000 at the time of publication.
Among the major contributors was Sam Levinson, who donated $27,000. Dane appeared as Cal Jacobs on Levinson’s HBO series Euphoria and had filmed scenes for its upcoming third season before his passing. Television producer and writer Brad Falchuk, who is married to Gwyneth Paltrow, also contributed $10,000.
On the GoFundMe page, organizers shared a heartfelt message alongside a photo of Dane with his daughters.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of Eric Dane after a hard-fought battle with ALS, leaving behind his devoted wife, Rebecca, and his two teenage daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.”
They went on to highlight his advocacy work and dedication to others battling the disease, noting that “he remained deeply committed to helping others facing the same devastating disease.”
“As his illness progressed far more quickly than anyone could have imagined, Eric’s friends have come together to create this GoFundMe to support his girls and their future needs,” the message continued. “Any contribution, no matter the size, will help provide stability during this incredibly difficult time and in the future for Eric’s wonderful daughters. Thank you.”
Amid criticism surrounding the fundraiser, one of Dane’s close friends publicly spoke out in its defense.
Mike McGuiness shared a tribute on Instagram, recalling memories and a trip they took together shortly before Dane’s death. In his post, he wrote:
“Covid and ALS did a number on his work life and he sadly couldn’t leave his family with the resources he had hoped. A gofundme is being made and I will post it on my story for anyone able to help. Love the ones you’ve got.”
McGuiness also wrote that Dane’s passing “broke” him and called ALS “as hopeless an affliction one could get,” while praising his friend for facing the disease with “grace” and “dignity.”
After his diagnosis, Dane traveled to Tokyo with McGuiness and other friends to attend a concert by Oasis. Reflecting on that experience, McGuiness shared:
“Eric said he couldn’t fix the past and the future was too hard to think about, so he was forced to be in the moment. On top of that, his hands didn’t work, so he couldn’t be on a phone. So in the moment he was.”
He added that he “learned more about my buddy in that week than the other 1000 times we hung out combined.”
Gayheart also acknowledged the public’s support, posting on her Instagram Stories, “Thank you to everyone.”
Before his death, Dane recorded emotional farewell messages for his daughters as part of a documentary released posthumously on Netflix. The nearly hour-long film, titled Famous Last Words: Eric Dane, reportedly was intended to premiere only after his passing. In the documentary, Dane addressed his daughters directly
“Billie and Georgia, these words are for you. I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried,’ he said. ‘Overall, we had a blast, didn’t we?'”
He also shared four lessons learned during his battle with ALS, beginning with the importance of living in the present:
“Live now, right now in the present. Second, fall in love. Not necessarily with a person, although I do recommend that as well. But fall in love with something.”
Another lesson emphasized was “choosing your friends wisely,” while his final message encouraged perseverance:
“Fight with every ounce of your being and with dignity. When you face challenges, health or otherwise, fight. Never give up. Fight until your last breath. This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit…”
As friends and fans continue to rally around Dane’s family, the GoFundMe campaign remains focused on securing a stable future for his daughters while honoring his legacy.
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