Johnny Depp quietly stepped up for a friend in need before his devastating death.
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).
“Eric [had] one less thing to worry about,” the insider told Page Six.
“[He was] living basically rent-free in one of the homes Johnny owns above the Sunset Strip. He told Eric to pay whatever he could — or couldn’t — for rent.”
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Johnny Depp reportedly put Eric Dane up in one of his Hollywood Hills homes before the “Grey’s Anatomy” actor’s death. Picture: Dave Benett/WireImage
Dane was diagnosed with ALS in April 2025. Picture: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
According to the outlet, Depp and Dane met through mutual friends years ago.
The source explains that as Dane struggled with the debilitating disease, “Johnny wanted to do what he could to ease the financial burden.”
Dane lost his battle with ALS last week 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 centre 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.”
A source said Depp gave Dane a pay-what-you-can rent to ease his financial burden during his health battle. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Prime Video
Depp owns multiple properties above the Sunset Strip. Picture: Anthony Ghnassia/Getty Images for Dior
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 honoured, “due to the physical realities of ALS” and not being “well enough to attend.”
Dane (right) starred in Grey’s Anatomy. Picture: ABC/Richard Foreman
Depp gave Mickey Rourke a similar offer when he fell on hard times. Picture: Paul Archuleta/Getty Images
The disease is also known as Lou Gehrig’s, after the famed baseball player 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.
The Edward Scissorhands actor — who owns multiple homes in the area — reportedly extended a similar flexible rent offer to Mickey Rourke.
Rourke, who starred with Depp in 2003’s Once Upon a Time in Mexico, was evicted from his home in January after owing almost $US60,000 ($A85,000) 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 a request for comment.
Parts of this story first appeared in Page Six and was republished with permission.
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