BRAVE MAG

Friday, February 20, 2026

Netflix releases a posthumous interview with Eric Dane after his death from ALS

Ulius Cesarius February 20, 2026

Eric Danedid not believe in an afterlife.

"I think when the lights go out, it's over," he said in an interview for "Famous Last Words," a Netflix series that's available now. "I do believe that once we go to sleep or however it is we — we go, once we're gone, we're gone."

He also hoped in the interview that his two daughters, Billie and Georgia, would remember how he was present in their lives. He went to beach volleyball games and dance recitals, adding that he'd seen "The Nutcracker" many times and his review was, "That thing drones on, man."

The "Grey's Anatomy" and "Euphoria" actor died Thursday less than one year after he announcedhe was diagnosed with ALS,or Lou Gehrig's disease, which is afatal nerve system disease.

"Famous Last Words" is based on a show that originated in Denmark. The premise is that a person is interviewed —executive producer Brad Falchukdoes the questioning in the Netflix show — and it will not be released until their death.

Dane's interview is the second episode. The first was with primatologist and conservationistJane Goodall,who died last October. Falchuk tells The Associated Press he's recorded five conversations already with plans for more.

No one else was present on set for the taping last November and even the camera operators were in a different room.

"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 on Friday. Only a small number of people work on the production of the show afterward. "Very, very few people have seen it and very, very people even know whose done it," explained Falchuk.

"Famous people don't often get an opportunity to speak honestly about themselves and about what they think in the world," said Falchuk who is married to Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow. "They have to be very protective, especially nowadays. They say things and it goes everywhere and it gets misinterpreted and they also want to keep working or keep you know doing what they do, so this is an opportunity for them not to have to be guarded."

Dane's ALS advocacy lives on

After his ALS diagnosis, Dane became an advocate to raise awareness and money to fight the disease. After his death, the organization I AM ALS released clips of him recorded for an upcoming documentary.

"It's a tough thing to respond to, it's a tough thing to live with, yeah. But it's really hard for the people around me too. And it's almost like — in a weird way, it's to some benefit, because I spend a lot of my time consoling others," he said in a clip released Friday.

Filmmaker Chris Burke also captured Dane on a trip to Washington D.C. where he lobbied politicians for a bill that would help accelerate research, expand access to treatment and secure one billion dollars in federal funding for ALS patients.

"He understood that ALS is not just a diagnosis; it is a call to action for families, for answers, and for change," the organization said in a statement after Dane's death.

Dane's last message to his daughters

In theNetflixshow, Dane also reflected on the lifelong impact of losing his father at age 7 and subsequent struggles with addiction to drugs and alcohol. He said he immediately knew he would marry Rebecca Gayheart when he met her and shared a memory of a family vacation to France where he spent a car ride speaking with a "spot on" French accent that made everyone laugh.

The most poignant part of the taping was at the end — when Falchuk left the room for Dane to look into the camera and deliver a final message which he dedicated to his daughters. Dane shared that his diagnosis with ALS taught him to be present. He also hoped the girls would "fall in love," whether it be with a person or something that would make them want to wake up each morning.

"I hope you won't just listen to me. I hope you'll hear me," he said.

Falchuk said this final message is something each guest has the opportunity to do. "People do all different kinds of stuff. Some people write it. Jane improvised hers. Eric wrote his," said Falchuk, who was visibly emotional at the idea of Dane's daughters watching his message.

"It's hard to think about that," he said. "They're grieving and he loved them so much. They loved him so much and they're just a beautiful family. I don't know. Maybe they'll watch it. Maybe they'll never watch it, whatever it may be."

Falchuk and Dane had dinner prior to filming and they didn't know each other well, but a new friendship had developed from the experience.

"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," said Falchuk. "It's hard when they die. It is hard."

The exchange seemed to also have an impact on Dane, who told Falchuk, "This is probably the most revealing and in-depth conversation I've had with just about anybody."

'American Idol' alum Caleb Flynn arrested and charged in wife's murder

Ulius Cesarius February 20, 2026

A former "American Idol" contestant has been arrested in western Ohio and charged with his wife's murder.

Caleb Carl Flynn, 39, is currently facing one count of murder and two counts each of felonious assault and tampering with evidence in the Feb. 16 death of Ashley Flynn, 37, Miami County court records show.

Ashley Flynn was found dead early Monday, Feb. 16, in her home in Tipp City, about 30 minutes north of Dayton and an hour east of Columbus, according toDayton-area TV station WHIO.

A 911 caller, later identified as the Season 12 singer, said someone broke into their house and shot Ashley Flynn, and children were inside the home,the Dayton Daily Newsreported.

Police investigators saidonly the couple and their children were home at the time of the shooting, WHIO reported.

Flynn has pleaded not guilty to the charges, his attorney, L. Patrick Mulligan, confirmed, adding that Mulligan looks forward to defending the case.

"We are both disappointed and concerned about the short timeline and seeming rush to judgment in this case," Mulligan said in a statement to USA TODAY. "When the government runs out of leads or can't develop leads and looks at a surviving spouse in cases such as these, the chance of a wrongful conviction increases."

Tipp City Police Department Chief Greg Adkins dismissed Mulligan's claim that the case has moved fast, adding that the investigation is progressing thoroughly and deliberately. In a statement to USA TODAY, he wrote, "The pace of this investigation has been driven by the evidence recovered and discovered, and that evidence will continue to guide the investigation as additional information is collected and analyzed."

"I am confident that the case ultimately presented in a court of law will reflect diligence, thoroughness, accuracy, and integrity. The family and the community deserve nothing less from our department and the assisting agencies," Adkins added.

Since Kelly Clarkson was named the first-ever "American Idol" winner on Sept. 4, 2002, the singing competition show has helped launch the careers of Billboard-charting artists, singers who have helped define their genre, daytime TV personalities and precisely one EGOT winner (we're looking at you, J Hud).

Though the "Idol" hitmaking machine now creaks rather than churns out superstars, the platform is still unparalleled when compared to its singing competition peers.

We've ranked the 23 "American Idol" winners based primarily on sheer talent, but with an obvious nod toward their success after the show.