Euphoria Creator Reveals How the Show Altered Eric Dane’s Season 3 Storyline amid His ALS Diagnosis

“He just showed up every day with such grace and dignity,” Sam Levinson said of working with Dane

Euphoria creator Sam Levinson is praising Eric Dane for taking part in season 3 after his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis.

Dane reprised his role as Cal Jacobs in the HBO drama for its highly-anticipated return before he died on Feb. 19 at the age of 53, less than a year after he announced his ALS diagnosis. Levinson opened up about working with the actor on the series, which will mark his final onscreen performance, in a recent interview with Extra.

“Eric called me before we started shooting and told me that he had been diagnosed with ALS,” the showrunner recalled. “We had a lot of conversations about just life and what that meant. I loved him very deeply, and I said, ‘Eric, whatever shape you show up in, we’re gonna make it work. I have faith that it’s all gonna work.’”

“He showed up and I could tell he had a slight slur in his voice and he told me that,” Levinson, 41, added. “I said, ‘Don’t worry. We’ll just put, like, five beer bottles in front of you and you’ve been drinking all night.’ He was like, ‘Perfect, perfect.’ And his character, it was such a gift.”

Dane’s appearance in the upcoming installment was teased for the first time in the March 30 trailer, which featured his character (the father of Jacob Elordi’s Nate Jacobs) reuniting with Jules (Hunter Schafer) after their sexual tryst in season 1.

“Remember me?” Jules asks Cal in a brief clip. “How could I forget?” he replies.

Levinson explained that those scenes were shot during Nate’s wedding to Cassie (Sydney Sweeney), which was a particularly large part of production. “We’ve got 28 cast members on set, and he just showed up every day with such grace and dignity,” Levinson said of Dane. “He was a great human being.”

When the Grey’s Anatomy alum revealed his ALS diagnosis exclusively to PEOPLE in April 2025, he highlighted his plans to appear in Euphoria’s third season. “I have been diagnosed with ALS,” he shared at the time. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”

“I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to the set of Euphoria next week,” he added.

His family confirmed his death 10 months later in a statement shared with PEOPLE: “With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS. 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.”

“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,” the statement continued. “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.”

Sharon Stone, who joined the cast of Euphoria season 3 as a guest star, previously recalled the importance that the role has had in Dane’s life.

“Eric and I have been friends for a long time. A long time. And I actually was like his support staff when he was trying to get the job on Euphoria,” she told Entertainment Tonight in August. “So he would come over to my house and bring me gluten-free cookies and we’d sit and discuss it because he really wanted that job.”

“It means the world to me that he got that job in time,” she added.

Alongside Dane, Elordi, Sweeney and Schafer, season 3 of Euphoria will see the return of Zendaya, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow and Chloe Cherry. Colman Domingo and Nika King are also set to return.

Euphoria season 3 premieres Sunday, April 12 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.