The final interview with Eric Dane for the Netflix series Famous Last Words has arrived on the streaming platform, and it is just as powerful and heartbreaking as viewers expected. The Grey’s Anatomy star, who passed away on February 19, 2026, at the age of 53 after a courageous battle with ALS, recorded his conversation with producer Brad Falchuk last November, knowing it would only be seen by the public after he was gone.
Now that the episode is streaming globally, the creative team behind the project is speaking out about the profound experience of sitting with Dane during his final months and the difficult decision to share his parting message with the world. For the show’s host and executive producer, this interview was unlike any other he has done.
The host’s honest confession about Eric Dane’s episode
Brad Falchuk, the television writer and producer known for creating Glee and American Horror Story, served as the interviewer for Famous Last Words. In the wake of Dane’s death and the episode’s release, Falchuk has given several interviews where he opened up about the emotional toll of the project and his personal feelings about watching the footage go public.
Falchuk admitted that his immediate reaction to Dane’s passing was a deeply human one that conflicted with his role as a producer. He confessed that a part of him wished the world would never see the interview they had worked so hard to create, simply because airing it would mean the actor was really gone.
“I’m grieving Eric a lot right now. It’s very hard. I was not expecting this to happen this soon. And I miss him. It’s hard when they die. It is hard.”
Falchuk shared that he and Dane did not know each other well before they sat down for the interview. They had dinner together prior to filming, and a genuine friendship began to form during that time. This made the loss even more personal for the producer. He described the experience of getting to know someone so deeply, only to lose them shortly after, as a unique and difficult part of making the series.
How the Famous Last Words interview was filmed
The format of Famous Last Words is designed to create a safe space for the guest. Falchuk explained that the recording session is incredibly private. When Eric Dane came to record in November 2025, the set was nearly empty. The camera operators were in a different room, and no one else was present besides Dane and Falchuk.
This setup is intentional. The goal is to make the guest feel secure enough to speak without any filters or fear of judgment.
“The guest needs to be totally safe to speak honestly and say whatever they want and know that they’re leaving something for people to experience with them not here,” Falchuk said.
After the taping, the footage is kept under strict wraps. Very few people are allowed to see it until after the individual has passed away. Falchuk noted that Eric Dane’s interview was handled with the utmost care and secrecy, which is why its release feels so significant to those who worked on it.
The final message to his daughters
The most talked-about segment of Eric Dane’s appearance on Famous Last Words is the private message he left for his two daughters, Billie (15) and Georgia (14), whom he shared with his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart.
At the end of the formal interview, Falchuk left the room, allowing Dane to speak directly to the camera. This moment was entirely Dane’s own. He wrote his message himself and delivered it with a voice hoarse from the effects of ALS.
In his message, Dane shared four life lessons he learned from his disease. He urged his girls to live in the present, to fall in love with something that gives them passion (just as he loved acting), to choose their friends wisely, and to fight every challenge with dignity.
“Billie and Georgia, you are my heart. You are my everything. Good night. I love you. Those are my last words.”
Falchuk admitted that thinking about Dane’s daughters watching the footage now is almost too much to handle. He acknowledged that grief is a personal journey and that he does not know if they will ever watch it, or if they will wait years to do so. The decision, he said, is entirely theirs.
Viewers react to the Netflix release
Since the episode dropped on Netflix on February 20, one day after Eric Dane’s death, social media has been flooded with reactions. While the show’s producer had conflicted feelings about airing it, audiences have largely embraced the interview as a beautiful tribute.
Many viewers took to X to express how the interview affected them. The consensus is that watching Eric Dane speak to his children with such clarity, love, and courage is an experience that leaves a lasting mark.
One user wrote, “Can’t stop crying. I just watched Eric Dane’s Netflix special, his last words to his daughters and my heart is breaking. The courage, love and resilience bro.”
Another viewer shared, “I don’t know why I went and watch that famous last word Eric Dane. Now I’m crying nonstop.”
The raw emotion of the special has led to a widespread appreciation for Dane’s strength. Despite his body failing him due to ALS, he maintained a sharp mind and a loving spirit right up until the end.
A legacy of love and advocacy
Beyond the interview, Eric Dane spent his final months advocating for ALS awareness. After his diagnosis in April 2025, he used his platform to push for research funding and better care for patients. He traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby politicians and worked with organizations like I AM ALS to make a difference.
In clips released after his death, Dane is seen speaking about his diagnosis with a mix of humor and honesty. At one point, he remarked that he spends a lot of his time consoling others about his illness, a telling sign of his selfless nature.
His family confirmed that he passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife and daughters. They described him as a man whose world revolved around his family.
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Where to watch Eric Dane’s Famous Last Words
Famous Last Words: Eric Dane is now available to stream on Netflix in its entirety. The episode runs for nearly an hour and features the full, unedited conversation between Dane and Brad Falchuk, including the private message to his children.
For viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India, the special is accessible with a standard Netflix subscription. It joins the first episode of the series, which featured the late Dr. Jane Goodall.
As the world continues to mourn the loss of a talented actor, this interview stands as a final gift—a chance to hear his voice, his laughter, and his wisdom one last time.
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