Patrick Dempsey is opening up about his late pal and “Gray’s Anatomy” co-star Eric Danewho handed away from ALS at 53 years outdated. Dempsey shares a memorable second from working with the late actor, providing a heartfelt tribute to his beloved pal.
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Patrick Dempsey Is Mourning The Loss Of His Pal
On February 20, Dempsey had a visitor look on “The Chris Evans Breakfast Present,” only a day after Dane died. Dempsey mentioned he wakened that morning to the information of his pal’s passing, telling the host it was tough to place into phrases what he was feeling.
In accordance with Dempsey, he had been texting with Dane only a week prior, and a few of their associates had visited the actor. At the moment, Dane had already began having issue talking, in accordance with Dempsey.
“He was bedridden and it was very exhausting for him to swallow, so the standard of his life was deteriorating so quickly,” Dempsey shared.
In April 2025, Dane shared that he had been identified with ALS, and he handed away on February 19, surrounded by his household.
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The Actor Remembers A Specific Second From ‘Gray’s Anatomy’
Dempsey describes Dane as a humorous man, saying that he was “such a pleasure to work with.” The actor mentioned he introduced a lot pleasure to the set of “Gray’s Anatomy,” the place they labored collectively for a number of years.
Dempsey recalled one among Dane’s scenes within the medical drama, the place the latter reveals up in solely a towel, exhibiting off his toned physique. “First scene was him in all of his glory popping out of the lavatory with a towel on, wanting wonderful, making me really feel utterly out of practice and insignificant,” Dempsey recalled, laughing.
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In accordance with the “Reminiscence of a Killer” actor, he and Dane instantly hit it off, extending their friendship outdoors of labor. “There was this glorious mutual respect. He is wickedly clever, and I am all the time going to recollect these moments of enjoyable that we had collectively and have fun the enjoyment that he did carry to individuals’s lives,” he mentioned.
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Patrick Dempsey And Eric Dane Labored Collectively For Six Seasons
Dempsey and Dane performed Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd and Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on “Gray’s Anatomy,” childhood associates and surgeons who had an advanced relationship.
Dane’s character first appeared in season 2, who was launched as Shepherd’s former finest pal who had an affair with Shepherd’s spouse. The 2 finally reconciled and developed a good nearer friendship all through the seasons.
Dane left “Gray’s Anatomy” in season 8 after his character was killed off. Dempsey’s character, in the meantime, died from a mind harm sustained in a automobile accident in season 11.
Regardless of now not seeing one another recurrently, Dempsey and Dane maintained their shut friendship after “Gray’s Anatomy.”
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Patrick Dempsey Needed To Work With Eric Dane Once more
Aside from “Gray’s Anatomy,” Dempsey and Dane additionally appeared within the 2010 film “Valentine’s Day,” although they did not seem in any scenes collectively.
As The Blast beforehand reported, Dempsey wished one other likelihood to work with Dane on a sequence.
When Dane revealed his ALS analysis, he mentioned that he wished to proceed appearing so long as he’s ready. Only a week after his announcement, he returned to work taking pictures for the third season of “Euphoria,” which is scheduled to premiere in April.
Dempsey’s crime thriller present on Fox, “Reminiscence of a Killer,” debuted on January 25. He revealed that he wished to get Dane as a visitor star, however sadly, the development of the actor’s ALS prevented it from occurring.
Patrick Dempsey Lauded His Pal’s ALS Advocacy
Aside from reminiscing about their time collectively, Dempsey additionally praised Dane for bringing consciousness to ALS whereas additionally battling the illness, including that it is a reminder to “have fun daily prefer it’s our final day.”
“In a world the place there’s simply a lot disaster, and there’s a lot tragedy that we actually should be grateful for each second that we’ve… spend time with our households, do issues which can be higher, that good thing about different individuals to be of service to be variety, to be loving…” he shared.
In September 2025, the ALS Community honored Dane with the Advocate of the 12 months Award for his work in elevating consciousness for ALS.