Eric Dane got candid about his battle with ALS before his death

Before his death at age 53, \

Eric Dane, who played the cheeky "McSteamy" Dr. Mark Sloan in the ABC medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," has died at 53 following a battle with ALS.

Short for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS is a rare degenerative disease that can impact the brain and spinal cord. Dane, who died Feb. 19, revealed in April that he was diagnosed with the illness, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

ALS is a serious condition that progressively degrades, then kills nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, according to the National Institutes of Health. Despite the severity of the disease, Dane worked up until his final days, appearing recently on NBC's "Brilliant Minds" as a firefighter diagnosed with ALS. He is also slated to reprise his role as Cal Jacobs on the upcoming third season of HBO's "Euphoria."

What is ALS? Eric Dane battled this disease before his death

Amid his battle with the disease, Dane made a point to speak out on its effects and raise awareness.