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Patrick Dempsey has spoken emotionally about the death of his former Grey's Anatomy co-star Eric Dane, describing the late actor as deeply loved and widely missed.
Dempsey, 60, reflected on the public reaction to Dane's passing during a February 24 appearance on News Talk FM. The actor acknowledged how personal loss has shaped
his perspective, telling the host, "It's very hard when you lose a family member. I lost my father very young, and my mother has passed. And now several friends in the last year I've lost."
Turning to his longtime colleague, Dempsey emphasized the affection surrounding Dane's memory. "Eric was so beloved, and I think he would really be so happy to know, and I know a lot of people reached out to him before his passing to keep track, that he was so beloved and is deeply missed," he said.
News of Dane's death emerged on February 19, ten months after the actor publicly revealed he had been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and has no cure.
In a statement shared after his passing, Dane's family said, "With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS." They added that he "spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the centre of his world." The family also highlighted Dane's advocacy work during his illness, noting that he pushed for greater awareness and research related to ALS.
Dempsey later revealed he had been in touch with Dane shortly before his death and expressed particular concern for the actor's children. Speaking on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, he said, "I feel really so sad for his children. I was corresponding with him, we were texting, so I spoke to him about a week ago and some friends of ours went in to see him and he was really starting to lose his ability to speak."
He described the progression of Dane's illness as especially difficult to witness. "He was bedridden and it was very hard for him to swallow, so the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly," Dempsey said.
Despite the difficult final months of Dane's life, Dempsey focused on the vibrant energy his colleague brought to their work. He recalled how Dane's humour and joy on set made every scene lively, leaving a lasting impression that Dempsey wanted to carry forward as part of his memory of him.
Looking back on their early days on set, Dempsey recalled Dane's natural humour and easy-going nature, which made working with him effortless. He remembered their first scene together vividly, with Dane's confident presence and charm instantly leaving an impression, highlighting just how effortlessly he lit up the room and made those around him feel in awe.
In the days following Dane's death, friends launched a GoFundMe campaign to support his family. The fundraiser, which set a $500,000 target, had raised more than $466,000 as of February 26.
