Eric Dane Passes at 53 After ALS Battle, Alysa Liu Wins First U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Gold in 24 Years, Luke Combs and Wife Welcome Third Baby

It’s National Muffin Day, Charles Barkley, Cindy Crawford, Miles Teller, Rihanna, and Olivia Rodrigo celebrate birthdays

From the LifeMinute.tv Team

February 20, 2026

Eric Dane passes at 53 after public battle with ALS
Actor Eric Dane, best known for his roles as Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey's Anatomy and Cal Jacobs on Euphoria, has died at the age of 53 following a battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Dane publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis last April and quickly became a prominent advocate for awareness and research. He joined the board of Target ALS and partnered with I Am ALS to help push for increased research funding and expanded access to treatments. In September 2025, he was named Advocate of the Year by ALS Network in recognition of his efforts to raise awareness and champion legislative change. He is survived by his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters, Billie Beatrice and Georgia Geraldine, who were by his side in his final moments.

Alysa Liu wins first U.S. Olympic women’s figure skating gold in 24 years
California native Alysa Liu captured the gold medal in women’s singles figure skating at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, becoming the first American to win the event since Sarah Hughes in 2002. The 20-year-old secured the title with a total score of 226.79 points after delivering a standout free skate set to Donna Summer’s 1978 disco version of "MacArthur Park." Liu finished ahead of Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto, who earned silver, and Ami Nakai, who took bronze. Her victory marks a remarkable comeback after briefly retiring from competitive figure skating following the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Liu previously made history as the youngest-ever U.S. national champion at age 13 and became the first American woman to land a quadruple jump in an international competition earlier in her career.

Luke Combs and wife Nicole welcome third baby
Country music star Luke Combs and his wife Nicole shared the news of the arrival of their latest child, Chet Wiley Combs. “Happy due date to the littlest Combs BOY! We’ve loved soaking up these last few weeks of newborn snuggles 🥰,” they posted to Instagram with photos of their now family of five. Chet joins big brothers Tex Lawrence Combs, 3 and Beau Lee Combs, 2.

Today’s holidays:
National Muffin Day, National Love Your Pet Day, National Cherry Pie Day, National Leadership Day, National Comfy Day, World Day of Social Justice.

In today’s birthday news:
Charles Barkley 63, Cindy Crawford 60, Lili Taylor 59, Lauren Ambrose 48, Miles Teller 39, Rihanna 38, Olivia Rodrigo 23, and Nirvana's Kurt Cobain would be 59.