Dax Shepard and Eric Dane, who died in February after battling ALS, had a close bond after a tense encounter at an AA meeting. Shepard shared that he and Dane both grew up without their fathers and began to relate to each other over two years. They visited each other's homes and reflected on their struggles with masculinity. After Dane was diagnosed with ALS, Shepard experienced an "insanely rapid decline" and found it the bravest thing he had done in his pursuits of manliness. Other actors and fans have paid tribute to Dane, including his portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey's Anatomy.