Better Call Saul star Russell Andrews, 64, reveals ALS diagnosis

Actor Russell Andrews has revealed he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS.

The Better Call Saul and Straight Outta Compton actor, 64, confirmed his devastating health battle with the progressive neurodegenerative disorder on CNN’s The Story Is with Elex Michaelson on Saturday, May 16.

Andrews was supported by his fiancée, actress Erica Tazel as he discussed the condition, three months after actor Eric Dane died from the disorder aged 53.

He said: ‘I am a person living with ALS. I was diagnosed in the late fall of last year. 

Andrews said his symptoms – which included twitches and loss of mobility – led him to believe he had had a stroke during the COVID pandemic.

‘It was a stressful time. We didn’t work for three years, about, and then we had the back-to-back strikes and so a lot was going on. 

Actor Russell Andrews has revealed he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS

Andrews revealed his diagnosis publicly three months after the death of Eric Dane at age 53 from ALS – pictured June 2025 

He added he thought he was ‘having pinched nerves in my neck.’

‘I was not able to do things that I normally do. I was dropping cups and glasses at night. It felt like things were running up and down my arm at different times and it was the nerves.’

Andrews revealed he had temporarily lost his insurance during the actor’s strike but went to see a doctor when he was able to.

He said: ‘Within 15 minutes, the primary care [physician] said she would like me to see a neurologist. One thing led to another.’

ALS is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to loss of muscle control and paralysis as it gets worse over time, per the Mayo Clinic. 

Andrews’ partner will be his caregiver and said she is still determined to marry him. 

She said: ‘[There] was not a sigh of relief, but some understanding of what was happening. And I looked at him across the room and I said, “At least now we know what it is, and I still want to be your wife.”’

Father-of-two Andrews said the support he had received from nonprofit ALS Network had greatly helped him as he faces the disorder, for which there is no cure.

‘And it’s been humbling but there’s… Elex, there’s also something in the fact that I walked into a family of very caring people I did not know a year ago – the cliché family, but they have not let us miss a step in terms of care, the attention, the awareness and the ability to get me here today’ he said.

Grey’s Anatomy star Dane first revealed his ALS diagnosis in April 2025.

‘I have been diagnosed with ALS,’ he told People at the time. ‘I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.’

In his interview with Sawyer for Good Morning America in June, Dane spoke about how he was processing his health battle.

The Better Call Saul and Straight Outta Compton actor, 64, confirmed his devastating health battle with the progressive neurodegenerative disorder on CNN ’s The Story Is with Elex Michaelson on Saturday, May 16

He added he thought he was ‘having pinched nerves in my neck.’ ‘I was not able to do things that I normally do. I was dropping cups and glasses at night. It felt like things were running up and down my arm at different times and it was the nerves’ – pictured 2019

‘I wake up every day, and I’m immediately reminded that this is happening,’ he said. ‘It’s not a dream.’

Dane’s wife, Rebecca Gayheart, also opened up about how their family was dealing with his ‘heartbreaking’ diagnosis.

She said that their teenage daughters were talking to therapists as their father battled with the progressive neurodegenerative disease.

‘I mean, it’s heartbreaking,’ she told People. ‘My girls are really suffering, and we’re just trying to get through it. It’s a tough time.

‘We have some professional therapists who are helping us, and we’re just trying to have some hope and do it with dignity, grace and love.’

Dane and Gayheart wed in 2004. They were married for 14 years before she filed for divorce in 2018. However, the pair called off the split seven years later, and they remained married until his death.

Dane announced his diagnosis just a month after Gayheart requested to dismiss her divorce filing.

The actor – who played the role of Cal Jacobs on 21 episodes of Euphoria – had finished his work on the third season prior to his passing

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): Details of fatal disease there is no cure for

What is it? 

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurogenerative disorder which impacts the nerve cells in the spinal cord and the brain, according to the Mayo Clinic. It gets progressively worse and causes significant muscle control loss in people who have it. 

Treatment 

There is no cure for ALS and the disease is fatal, but it progresses at different speeds in patients. 

Symptoms

The first signs of ALS are twitching of the muscles, weaknesses of the limbs and problems with swallowing and speaking. Progressively, it deteriorates muscle control and impacts an individual’s ability to breathe, move, speak and eat.

ALS symptoms correspond with where nerve cells deteriorate in each person, and could lead to issues walking, tripping, and weakness of the knees, ankles and hands.

It can also lead to problems with muscle cramps and twitching in areas including one’s tongue, arms and shoulders. People with ALS have experienced untimely spells of laughter, tears and yawns, as well as changes to one’s thinking process or behavior, according to the clinic.

Risk factors 

Among the risk factors researchers have established for ALS include genetics, as about 10 percent of people diagnosed with it were passed down a gene from a relative, which is called hereditary ALS, according to the clinic. Kids of people who have hereditary ALS have a 50 percent chance of having the gene.

Age is also a factor as the risk of getting the disease trends up toward the age of 75, with the most common range of people who have it between 60 and 85. In terms of gender, men are diagnosed with a higher rate of ALS prior to the age of 65, according to the clinic.

Other factors that have been linked to ALS include smoking and exposure to toxic substances. The clinic reported that military personnel have been diagnosed with ALS at a higher rate.

Causes

There is no known cause of ALS, according to the Mayo Clinic, and heredity plays a factor in a small number of cases. 

Lou Gehrig was one of baseball’s preeminent stars while playing for the Yankees between 1923 and 1939. Known as ‘The Iron Horse,’ he played in 2,130 consecutive games before ALS forced him to retire. The record was broken by Cal Ripken Jr. in 1995 

Lou Gehrig’s Disease

As well as being known as ALS, it is frequently referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Lou Gehrig was a stalwart first baseman for the New York Yankees between 1923 and 1939. He was famous for his strength and durability, earning the nickname ‘The Iron Horse’ with a record-setting streak of 2,130 consecutive games.

In a July 4, 1939 speech on Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day at Yankee Stadium, the ballplayer famously said, ‘For the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.’

His popularity and fame transcended the sport of baseball. He died two years after his diagnosis on June 2, 1941.