The actor died in February after announcing in 2025 that he was diagnosed with ALS. He was able to reprise his role in the final season of the HBO drama.

Euphoria star Eric Dane snubbed for first Emmy nomination 5 months after death

The actor died in February after announcing in 2025 that he was diagnosed with ALS. He was able to reprise his role in the final season of the HBO drama.

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July 8, 2026 12:02 p.m. ET

Eric Dane on ‘Euphoria’ season 3. Credit:

- *Euphoria* star Eric Dane missed out on a posthumous nomination for his performance on the HBO drama.

- The *Grey’s Anatomy* alum returned for the show’s third and final season.

- Dane died in February after revealing in 2025 that he was diagnosed with ALS.

*Euphoria* actor Eric Dane was snubbed for his first Emmy nomination five months after his death from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The posthumous nomination would’ve come Wednesday, after the *Grey’s Anatomy* alum reprised his role as the troubled Cal Jacobs — father of Jacob Elordi‘s ill-fated Nate Jacobs — for the third and final season of the Zendaya-starring HBO drama series. (The lead actress did score a nom.)

Though he was listed as a main cast member for *Euphoria* season 3, Dane’s posthumous nod was eligible for the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series category, as he only appeared in a small number of episodes across the final season.**

Eric Dane on ‘Euphoria’.

Though he’s acted in several high-profile TV projects in the past, Dane never received an Emmy nomination for his work before his death at age 53.

After announcing in 2025 that he was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease known as ALS, Dane returned to film his *Euphoria* season 3 scenes in one day.

“I shot one day. I can tell you that we are in production,” Dane told *Extra* in June 2025. “That’s all I know!”

'Euphoria' creator 'fought very hard' to keep star Angus Cloud 'clean' before his death

Eric Dane posthumously advocates for fight against ALS alongside 'Grey's Anatomy' costars in campaign video

When asked if longtime fans of the show, which debuted in 2019, would be satisfied with the long-delayed season 3, Dane replied, “Yes, absolutely. I think there’s still an appetite for that show out there. I think we’ll be alright.”

HBO later released a statement in the aftermath of Dane’s death.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of Eric Dane’s passing. He was incredibly talented and HBO was fortunate to have worked with him on three seasons of *Euphoria,*“ the network shared in a social media tribute in February. “Our thoughts are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”

Eric Dane on ‘Euphoria’.

Dane was among several other major cast members to return after* Euphoria*‘s four-year hiatus in a season that was widely criticized by media and fans alike. Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Colman Domingo, Maude Apatow, and the aforementioned Elordi also returned, though both Zendaya’s Rue and Elordi’s Nate died in the final season.

Creator Sam Levinson previously told ** that season 3 served, in some ways, as a tribute to the late Angus Cloud, Dane’s *Euphoria* costar who died from an overdose in 2023.

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“I fought very hard to keep him clean when he was alive, and losing him was really tough,” Levinson told EW at the season 3 premiere, adding that he kept Cloud’s character, Fezco, alive in the series because it “felt like if I couldn’t keep him alive in life, then, I could in the show.”

The 2026 Emmys — hosted by Mariska Hargitay — air Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.

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Source: “EW Emmys”