What started as almost a fist fight turned into one of the most unexpected friendships in Hollywood.
Speaking at the New Orleans Book Festival, Dax Shepard didn’t sugar coat his first impression of Eric Dane.
“Eric Dane, I can now say that I met in recovery and we hated each other. I hated him!” Shepard admitted. “I thought he was a bit of a bully… I said, “Let’s go. Outside. Right now.” It was on.”
Yes, outside of an AA meeting.
Cooler heads eventually prevailed and no punches were thrown. But then what happened? This is where the story turns.
“God bless us both. We kept coming back,” Shepard said, explaining how repeated encounters slowly broke the tension. Over time, curiosity replaced judgment.
Then came the moment that changed everything.
“His father shot himself in his house when he was a little boy…” Shepard said, revealing the trauma that shaped Dane’s life. “So the little boy held on to it.”
Suddenly it clicked.
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but that’s one of my favorite stocks I’ve ever heard,” Shepard recalled telling him. Not long after, Dane responded in kind, “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I think I’ve fallen in love with Dax.”
And just like that, the almost match turned into true friendship.
The two bonded over addiction, masculinity and growing up without fathers – conversations that ran deep and often took place at Danes’ homes.
Danes, best known for Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoriadied in February at age 53 after battling ALS.
“For someone who was so intent on being hyper-masculine… I found out [this] to be the bravest thing he had done,” Shepard said.
From “let’s fight” to “I love you.” Not your typical Hollywood arc.
