Ellen Pompeo has revealed a private conversation she had with former Grey’s Anatomy castmate Eric Dane, saying she reached out to him shortly after learning of Dane’s ALS diagnosis.
The 56-year-old actress spoke candidly about the discussion she had with Dane at the ALS Network Champions for Cure & Care Gala on January 24th.
“As soon as I heard his diagnosis, I texted him and said, ‘If you want to talk, I’m here,'” Pompeo said in a prerecorded message, People reported. “And 30 seconds later my phone rang.”
Mr. Pompeo recalled the conversation and said he told his friend, “I’ll help you with whatever you need. But I’ll do whatever I can. I love you.”
“I’m really proud of you. I love you so much and it’s an honor to talk about you today,” she added.
Pompeo also shared some light-hearted memories about Dane and how he made an instant impact on her when he joined Season 2 as Dr. Mark Sloan.
“I remember when he showed up as McSteamy, we had an instant electrochemistry. We fell in love with him right away,” she said.
Dane was scheduled to receive the Advocate of the Year award, but the event was canceled due to “the physical realities of ALS” and “he was not well enough to attend,” the ALS Network confirmed to People magazine.
The Grey’s Anatomy alum, 53, who has been open about her battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), revealed her diagnosis in April 2025.
In September 2025, he was found in a wheelchair at an airport in Washington, D.C., and gave a touching message to his fans who were worried about him.
“Stay true to your beliefs,” Dane says in a stammering voice, in footage obtained by the Daily Mail.
Despite the progress of his illness, the father of two said he has no plans to quit acting.
During a panel discussion held by I Am ALS and “Brilliant Minds” in December 2025, he said that he would likely take on an “ALS-centric” role in the future because he is “very limited in what he can do physically.”
“I still have a brain and I still have words,” he said. However, he said, “I’m willing to do just about anything.”
