The actor was originally scheduled to present an award and take part in a planned Grey’s Anatomy reunion — but he ended up missing the event entirely.
At the time, Eric’s absence went unexplained — but in a new interview with the Washington Post, he opened up about why he didn’t show.
As some speculated, he missed the Emmys due to his ongoing struggles with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a progressive disease that affects the nervous system and leads to the loss of muscle control. Eric revealed his diagnosis last April.
Eric told the Post that at the time of the Emmys, he was being hospitalized after falling in his kitchen and hitting his head.
“ALS is a nasty disease,” Eric said. “So I was in the hospital during the Emmys getting stitches put in my head.”
He went on to express his disappointment for missing the awards and the chance to reunite with Jesse. “I missed an opportunity I was really looking forward to,” he shared. “It would have been great to see Jesse and get reunited with some of my peers, and to be able to present in front of my colleagues I thought would have a been special moment. So I was a really upset about it, but you know, there was nothing I could do about it.”
In a conversation with the organization I AM ALS and Rep. Eric Swalwell, Eric vowed to fight ALS until his “last breath” — especially for his daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, whom he shares with his wife, actor Rebecca Gayheart.
Sending so much love to you, Eric, and hoping for your strength and comfort. ❤️