'Grey's Anatomy' Actor, Eric Dane Stars On 'Brilliant Minds 2', His Character Also Has ALS Like Him?

Brilliant Minds first premiered last year on September 23, 2024. Since then, the show has captured viewers' hearts with its focus on neurology and mental health. The medical drama got renewed for a second season recently and has been airing on platforms like NBC and Peacock since November 10, 2025. You might not want to miss tonight's episode of the show titled, The Firefighter, because it has a special appearance by one of our favourite actors, Eric Dane. Here's what we know about his role in the show.  

Eric Dane's role as a firefighter battling ALS on Brilliant Minds 

Eric Dane is popularly known by movie fanatics for his role as 'Dr. Mark Sloan', affectionately known as 'McSteamy', on the hit series, Grey's Anatomy. Having played this role for 6 seasons straight, Dane is making a notable return to the small screen with the second season of the medical drama, Brilliant Minds. What makes his debut in this drama special is that he will portray a firefighter named 'Matthew', who grapples with the same medical condition that the actor himself has — ALS, short for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In an April 10, 2025, interview with People, Dane publicly acknowledged and disclosed his diagnosis of this progressive neurological disease and said how fortunate he was to be able to keep working despite his diagnosis.  

The episode featuring Eric Dane airs tonight, on November 24, at 10 pm ET. In this episode, Dane's character is a firefighter, and a proud one at that, who is struggling with the reality of his diagnosis and trying his best to keep it a secret from his ex-wife and daughter. His fear of being a burden to those around him is something that most people with a similar illness can deeply resonate with. The main reason why his character is unable to accept his diagnosis is that, owing to his profession, he is accustomed to being a hero who saves lives. 

After his diagnosis, Eric Dane's character, ‘Matthew', is also hesitant to accept assistance from anyone, even when he is advised by ‘Dr. Oliver Wolf’, the show's lead neurologist, to use a BiPAP machine to ease his breathing. 'Matthew's' vulnerability and feelings of helplessness come to the forefront when, in an emotional exchange, he says, "Nobody survives this". This statement also highlights the daunting nature of ALS and the burden he feels when it comes to sharing his battle.  

Eric Dane received a 10-minute standing ovation for his acting on Brilliant Minds  

The creative team at Brilliant Minds has been incredibly supportive and full of praise for Eric Dane's acting on the show. Previously, the show's creator, Michael Grassi, had expressed his enthusiasm regarding Dane's involvement with the show, especially since he was navigating his own family health crisis at the time of the discussions. While critics and audiences are eagerly looking forward to seeing Eric Dane's acting in this season, the cast and crew have already witnessed the actor's acting capabilities. In a particularly poignant scene, Dane's portrayal of 'Matthew' left everyone visibly moved, prompting a 10-minute standing ovation for his emotionally charged performance. Grassi recalled this incident during an interview with USA Today, where he stated: 

"I have never seen this happen in my entire career, but he essentially got a 10-minute standing ovation after shooting that scene, because it was so beautiful and so honest and so real. Also, while his character’s finding bravery, there’s a lot of bravery in Eric to tell the story as well. 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."

Don't forget to let us know your thoughts on Eric Dane's performance after catching tonight's episode of Brilliant Minds.

Also read: 'Law And Order: SVU' Star, Ice-T Didn't Have A Choice In Reduced Screentime In Season 27, 'Am Not..'

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