NN.Hidden Until Now: Johnny Depp’s Secret Act of Kindness During Eric Dane’s ALS Battle Finally Comes to Light.
Johnny Depp quietly stepped up for a friend in need before his devastating death.
We’re told the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star opened the doors of one of his Los Angeles homes to ailing pal Eric Dane — with a pay-what-you-can arrangement following the “Grey’s Anatomy” star’s diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
We’re told Depp and Dane met through mutual friends years ago.
The source explains that as Eric struggled with the debilitating disease, “Johnny wanted to do what he could to ease the financial burden.”
Dane lost his battle with ALS on Thursday at 53 years old.
“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,” the family announced in a statement.
“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,” the statement continued. “He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always.”
The actor announced his diagnosis with the nervous system disease that causes loss of muscle control in April 2025. By June, he had lost the use of his right arm.
“My left side is functioning, my right side has completely stopped working,” the “Euphoria” star said in an interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America. “I feel like maybe a couple more months and I won’t have my left hand either. It’s sobering.”
Dane has thrown himself into advocacy work, joining the board of directors at Target ALS, which funds research aimed at finding treatments and a cure. In November, he played a firefighter battling ALS in an episode of the show “Brilliant Minds.”
In January, Dane was forced to cancel his appearance at the ALS Network’s Champions for Cures and Care Gala where he was set to be honored, “due to the physical realities of ALS” and not being “well enough to attend.”
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The disease is also known as Lou Gehrig’s, after the famed Yankee was diagnosed in 1939. Scientist Stephen Hawking and Roberta Flack also suffered from the progressive, degenerative disease that eventually leads to death.
Dane isn’t the only one Depp has offered to help.
We hear the “Edward Scissorhands” actor — who owns multiple homes in the area — extended a similar flexible rent offer to Mickey Rourke.
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Rourke, who starred with Depp in 2003’s “Once Upon a Time in Mexico,” was evicted from his home in January after owing almost $60,000 in overdue rent.
The source tells us that “as of yet, Mickey hasn’t accepted the offer.”
He also turned down donations for a GoFundMe that had been set up by his manager.
Reps for Depp, Dane and Rourke did not respond to request for comment.
