Patrick Dempsey shared some details about his Grey’s Anatomy co-star Eric Dane’s final days before his tragic death from ALS.
Appearing on Virgin Radio UK’s Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Friday, Mr Dempsey said: “I just woke up this morning and I read the news and I was very sad.”
After taking a moment to collect his thoughts, he continued, “It’s hard to put into words. I feel really sad for the kids.”
Dane has daughters Billie and Georgia with his estranged wife Rebecca Gayheart. The two married in 2004, and she filed for divorce in 2018, but the divorce was finalized in March 2025.
The ‘Memories of a Murderer’ actor further added, “I was corresponding with him and we were texting, so I spoke to him about a week ago, and a couple of our friends went to see him, and he was really starting to lose his ability to speak.
“He was bedridden and had great difficulty swallowing, so his quality of life was rapidly deteriorating.”
Dempsey, 60, remembered Dane as “the funniest guy” and “a lot of fun to work with.”
“I just want to remember him in that spirit, because whenever he was on the set[of Grey’s Anatomy]he brought so much fun to the set,” he said, before adding that they “hit it off right away.”
The actor who played Derek Shepherd recalled Dane’s first appearance on the show as Mark Sloan in Season 2 in 2006.
“The first scene was him coming out of the bathroom in all his glory with a towel wrapped around him. It was amazing and I felt completely sick and insignificant,” he recalled with a laugh.
“We hit it off because we never really competed. There was a great mutual respect. He was frighteningly intelligent and I always remember the fun moments we had together and celebrate the joy he brought to people’s lives.”
Dempsey also praised the “Euphoria” actor for bringing awareness to ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease) on “The Days We Left.”
“He has done a great job of raising awareness of this terrible disease in the days he has left, and it is a reminder that we should all celebrate each day like it’s our last,” the actor said.
“This is something that we have to remember, and certainly in a world where there are so many crises and tragedies, we need to really appreciate every moment that we are having… to spend time with our families, to do better, to be kind and loving and of service to the benefit of others.”
Dempsey joined the rest of the Grey’s Anatomy cast in paying tribute to Dane, who tragically passed away at the age of 53.
On Thursday night, his family released a statement following the tragic news.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share that Eric Dane passed away on Thursday afternoon after a courageous battle with ALS,” the statement began. “Through his battle with ALS, Eric was a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same battle.
“He will be greatly missed and always remembered with fondness. Eric loved his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he received. The family requests privacy as they work through this impossible time.”
Dane first shared his diagnosis in April 2025 and continued to perform despite quickly losing the ability to control his limbs.
He most recently appeared on Season 2 of NBC’s “Brilliant Minds,” where he played a firefighter diagnosed with ALS.
He also worked on the filming of “Euphoria” Season 3.
