Friends Turned Allies: The Hilarious Origins of Dax Shepard and Eric Dane’s Friendship

At the start of their friendship, Dax Shepard and Eric Dane experienced a rocky beginning that nearly led to a fight. Shepard recounted on his podcast how their first interactions at an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting were tense. Shepard, 50, shared that at that time, Dane, 52, threatened someone in the meeting, saying, “Let’s go, motherf–ker,” and Dane warned another attendee, “If you hit that timer again, I’m gonna f–king throw you in that candle.”

Shepard remembered standing up and challenging Dane, telling him to come outside for a confrontation. The two actors, who initially argued in the driveway, were eventually separated by their sponsor. Dane humorously remarked that he didn’t want to fight Shepard because he considers him “a unit” who is “always looking for a fight.”

Despite their fiery start, Shepard now speaks warmly of Dane, expressing that he has grown to love him and feels a newfound sweetness toward his friend. Shepard also mentioned that over time, they realized they share similar struggles and interests, including a love of cars, which helped solidify their bond.

The duo first shared their story in a June 2024 episode of their podcast, where Dane admitted their initial interactions were more civil but contentious. Shepard admitted he initially was ready to fight, but ultimately their shared experiences and understanding brought them closer.

Despite a rough start, Shepard revealed he now genuinely cares for Dane, recognizing they share similar struggles, including Dane’s recent public disclosure of his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Dane, known for his role in “Grey’s Anatomy,” highlighted in a recent interview that his condition has significantly progressed, with his right side now non-functional. He remains optimistic, expressing determination to fight on and view his story as ongoing.