Eric Dane will guest star on the Zachary Quinto-led medical drama, playing a patient diagnosed with the same neurodegenerative disease he lives with in real life.
Dane’s character Matthew is a firefighter who struggles to share his ALS diagnosis with his family. He will appear in the ninth episode of the ongoing second season of Brilliant Minds.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a rare and progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement. Over time, it leads to muscle weakness, paralysis, and difficulty speaking, swallowing, and breathing, while cognitive function often remains intact.
Sometimes called “Lou Gehrig’s disease,” after the baseball legend who brought national attention to it in the 1930s, ALS affects people of all backgrounds and currently has no known cure. Advocacy groups and researchers continue to push for better treatments, awareness, and support for those living with the condition and their loved ones.
Since revealing his diagnosis in April, the Euphoria star has become a passionate advocate for ALS research and funding. In September, Dane joined Congressman Eric Swalwell, along with advocates and medical experts from I AM ALS, to call for better resources and care for those living with the disease.
During their discussion in Washington, D.C., he opened up about what drives him to keep fighting — his two daughters. In a video shared by Swalwell, Dane vowed to “fight until the last breath” to help find a cure and be there for every milestone in their lives.
Despite his diagnosis, Dane hasn’t slowed down. He’s continuing his work on season 3 of Euphoria and recently starred in Prime Video’s Countdown.
About Brilliant Minds Season 2
Inspired by the life and work of neurologist Oliver Sacks, Brilliant Minds follows the brilliant but enigmatic Dr. Oliver Wolf and his team of interns as they navigate the uncharted frontier of the human mind. Alongside medical marvels and ethical dilemmas, the series dives into the characters’ personal lives, tackling issues of identity, relationships, and mental health.
The series also made history, as Quinto became the first openly gay actor to play a lead gay doctor on primetime network TV.
“I’ve always loved medical dramas, but I imagined how much more powerful they could’ve been if they had a gay lead,” showrunner Michael Grassi told Gayety. “With Oliver Wolf, we get to see him as a hero, a son, a mentor, and now, a romantic lead. That’s something I wish I had growing up.”
Season 2 of Brilliant Minds is now airing on NBC, with new episodes airing Mondays and streaming the next day on Peacock. Dane’s episode will air on November 24.
