New details about late Grey’s Anatomy star Eric Dane’s posthumous memoir have been revealed by his publisher, Maria Shriver.
“I was honored Eric Dane chose my publishing imprint, @openfieldbooks, to publish his memoir, My Book of Days,” Shriver, 70, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, March 5. “He told me he wanted his family to know how much he loved them, and he wanted to leave them a story they could be proud of.”
Shriver confirmed that Dane was writing My Book of Days “right up to the end.” Dane died at age 53 on February 19, 2026, from respiratory failure with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as an underlying cause. (Per the Mayo Clinic, ALS is a progressive “nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord” and causes a loss of muscle control.)
“In keeping with Eric’s wishes, [My Book of Days] will be published on November 3, 2026,” Shriver confirmed.
Every Time Eric Dane Had Been Candid About ALS and Other Health Struggles
In December 2025, Dane announced he was working on a memoir to explore his iconic TV roles in Grey’s Anatomy, Charmed and Euphoria, in addition to addressing his diagnosis with ALS.
“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 at the time. “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 added, “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 revealed via her Sunday Paper newsletter in February that she was supposed to meet with Dane days before his death.
“[Eric] wrote [this book] so that his family had something to be proud of,” she explained at the time. “Eric and I were scheduled to have lunch two weeks ago, but he wasn’t feeling well that morning, so we rescheduled for next week. His passing is another powerful reminder that today is all any of us have. Next week isn’t guaranteed.”
The journalist credited Dane with changing many lives for the better when he “bravely shared his ALS diagnosis” in April 2025.
“He advocated for increased research and showed up in every way he could to focus our attention on this devastating neurological disease,” Shriver wrote on February 22, 2026. “My team at The Open Field was honored when Eric chose our imprint to publish his memoir. He told me he wanted to write his book to share his story with the world.”
Dane was mourned by many of his Hollywood colleagues when his family announced his death in February. (Dane shared two daughters, Billie Beatrice Dane and Georgia Geraldine Dane, with his wife, Rebecca Gayheart.)
What to Know About Eric Dane’s Life, ALS Fight and Legacy After His Death
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” a family statement to Us Weekly read. “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.”
The statement continued, “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. 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.”
