‘Euphoria’ Creator’s Secretive Move: Shocking Sum Donated to Eric Dane’s Fund Sparks Questions
What does it say about humanity—or the surreal age of TV we live in—when the creator of the wildest high school drama since, well, forever, ponies up $27,000 to a GoFundMe in honor of one of his key stars? Picture this: Sam Levinson, the brain behind Euphoria (yeah, the show that made us all Google “is this really what Gen Z is doing?”), stepping up in the most tangible way for Eric Dane—a guy best known as “McSteamy” who also nailed the part of complicated patriarch Cal Jacobs—after his absolutely gutting ALS diagnosis and tragic passing at just 53 . It’s that rare moment when Hollywood empathy isn’t just lip service. Maybe the real question is, why does it still surprise us when people from Tinseltown actually act like, you know, people? Grab your tissues and let’s tumble into a story that’s both heart-wrenching and humbling, where off-screen bonds prove even more meaningful than any twist in Euphoria. LEARN MORE
Sam Levinson, the creator of Euphoria, has contributed to the GoFundMe of Eric Dane, who played Cal Jacobs on the HBO show.
Aged just 53, the McSteamy actor passed away just 10 months after announcing his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” a family statement read on Thursday (19 February).
“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.”
Levinson and and his wife Ashley have since donated $27,000 to Dane’s GoFundMe set up by friends of the family.
At the time of writing, it remains the largest donation behind $25,000 and $18,000 from two anonymous contributors.
(HBO)
“I’m heartbroken by the loss of our dear friend Eric,” Levinson said in a statement to Variety.
“Working with him was an honor. Being his friend was a gift.
“Eric’s family is in our prayers. May his memory be for a blessing.”
Dane, who played a father leading a double life in season one and two of Euphoria, said the whole experience allowed him to express himself differently.
“I’ve always had a profound respect for the craft of acting, but I never considered myself an artist,” he told Variety last year.
Sam Levinson (left) donated $27,000 to Dane’s GoFundMe (Rick Kern/Getty Images)
“I could never admit it, until I started making Euphoria. That’s when I gave myself the allowance to feel like I was an artist.
“I just have so much trust in Sam Levinson that I don’t really need to know what’s happening. On the day, he can just tell me what to do and where to go, and I’m good with it.”
The GoFundMe – which has so far raised $136,000 from a $250,000 target – has been set up to support ‘his two teenage daughters’ of whom he shared with his wife Rebecca.
“Following his diagnosis, Eric became a passionate spokesperson for the ALS community, using his voice and platform to advocate for fellow patients and to push for greater awareness,” it reads.
Friends of the Dane family have set up a GoFundMe to support ‘his two teenage daughters who were the center of his world’ (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
“Even as his own health declined, 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.
“Any contribution, no matter the size, will help provide stability during this incredibly difficult time and in the future for Eric’s wonderful daughters.”
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that damages motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord.
As these nerve cells deteriorate, muscles weaken, leading to difficulty speaking, swallowing and breathing.
While about five to 10 percent of cases are inherited, the exact cause remains unclear. Life expectancy is around two to five years after symptom onset.
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