Patrick Dempsey spoke about his ‘Grey’s Anatomy‘ co-star Eric Dane shortly before Dane’s death from ALS on February 19 at age 53. In that interview, he described recent conversations and shared how he kept checking on him as the illness worsened.
At the time, it sounded like an update about a former co-star. But after Dane’s passing, those same lines feel so different. Almost like a tribute.
Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane’s Friendship Stayed Strong Even After ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane became household names as Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd and Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on ‘Grey’s Anatomy‘. Dane left in 2012 and Dempsey in 2015, but they stayed in contact long after their exits.
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Shortly before Dane passed away, Dempsey revealed they had recently spoken. He even wanted Dane to appear in his Fox series ‘Memory of a Killer‘, but the progression of ALS made it “virtually impossible.” Dempsey shared, “I was hoping he would be able to do it, but it just didn’t work out.” Instead, Dempsey kept reaching out.
Patrick Dempsey did not hesitate when talking about the kind of human being Eric Dane is. He added, “He’s a wonderful human being.” He added that it was very hard for Dane, and that he tried to stay in touch to see how he was doing, calling him “incredibly courageous” in the face of the disease.
Patrick Dempsey’s Emotional Tribute To Eric Dane Is Heartbreaking
Beyond the work memories, Dempsey spoke about Dane in an interview. He said, “He’s such a wonderful human being. He has such a great sense of humor, and he’s so intelligent,” and added that he always enjoyed being around him. Then he admitted, “It’s heartbreaking. It really is. For him and for his family.”
He also reflected on ALS itself, noting how painful it is to watch because of how quickly the illness affects the body and those close to the patient. Later, after Dane’s passing, Dempsey shared a more personal tribute. He said he woke up very sad after hearing the news and especially felt for Dane’s children. They had been texting, and he had spoken to him about a week earlier.
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Meanwhile, friends who visited told him Dane had begun losing his ability to speak, had become bedridden, and struggled to swallow as his quality of life declined rapidly. Even so, Dempsey chose to remember the joy. He called Dane the funniest man and a pleasure to work with, explaining that he always brought fun onto the set. He joked that in their very first scene, Dane confidently stepped out wearing only a towel; yet it broke the ice.
From there, they clicked, and there was never competition, only mutual respect. Dempsey described him as wickedly intelligent and said he will always celebrate the happiness Dane brought to others.
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