Eric Dane’s posthumous memoir, My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments, is set to be released on November 3, with the late actor making the “prudent decision” to finish the book in 2023 after being diagnosed with ALS.
In a Thursday press release, Penguin Random House announced that Dane “wanted to share these words with his daughters and readers. Publishing as planned will allow him to continue speaking in his own voice with the clarity and courage that defined him.”
“He worked on the manuscript until the end,” the release added.
Maria Shriver’s publishing company, The Open Field, will publish the book.
The author said he was “honored” that Dane, who tragically passed away on February 19 at the age of 53 after a 10-month battle with a neurodegenerative disease, had chosen the team to publish his memoir.
“He told me he wanted his family to know how much he loved them and he wanted to leave a story that he could be proud of,” added Shriver, 70.
Before his death, Dane told his publisher: “As soon as I wake up every morning, I’m reminded that this is real, this disease, this challenge is real. And that’s exactly why I’m writing this book.”
“I want to capture the moments that shaped me, the beautiful days, the difficult days, the days I didn’t take for granted. Most of all, I hope that people who read this book will remember what it means to live with heart,” the Grey’s Anatomy star continued. “If sharing this helps someone else find meaning in their days, then my story is worth telling.”
The memoir’s official synopsis reads, “‘My Book of Days’ captures everything from his early struggles in Hollywood, to the hard-won peace of sobriety to the profound clarity of his ALS diagnosis.”
After being diagnosed with the disease, Dane had a “new perspective” on how “all we really have is day to day.”
In his book, the Bad Boys: Ride or Die star also took time to reflect on his life after his death, and shared his thoughts about his daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14.
Along with his memoir, Dane shared his last public message to his daughters, which he shared with ex-wife Rebecca Gayheart, in the Netflix series Famous Last Words.
In an interview released after his death, the “Euphoria” actor addressed teens, saying, “Fight with every ounce of your being and with dignity. Whether you are healthy or not, when you are faced with hardship, fight.”
“Never give up. Keep fighting until your last breath. This disease will slowly eat away at my body, but it will never take away my spirit,” Dane elaborated. “I hope I’ve proven that you can face anything. You can face the end of life. You can face hell with dignity. Fight girls and hold your chest high.”
He tearfully said, “Billy and Georgia, you are my heart. You are my everything. Good night. I love you. These are my last words.”
Dane and Gayheart married in 2004, but after 13 years of marriage, the “Jawbreaker” star filed for divorce in 2018, but called it off last March.
The actress remained by Dane’s side throughout his battle with ALS, later explaining that she made the decision to teach her daughters to be there for their families “even in the worst of times.”
Gayheart also revealed that she and Dane had not lived together for eight years.
A GoFundMe account was set up after Dane’s death, which notes that he leaves behind “his devoted wife, Rebecca, and two teenage daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.”
“Despite his own health declining after his diagnosis, he remained passionate about helping others facing the same devastating disease.”
“His illness progressed much faster than anyone expected, so Eric’s friends came together to create this GoFundMe to support his daughters and their future needs.”
