Patrick Dempsey pays tribute to ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ co-star Eric Dane and admits “his life was deteriorating so rapidly”
Hollywood actor Patrick Dempsey has paid tribute to his late Grey’s Anatomy co-star Eric Dane, who has died aged 53.
Dane died following a battle with ALS, also known as motor neurone disease. Dane announced his diagnosis last year, and he sadly had to enter full-time care by the end of 2025.
In a statement released by Dane’s family, it was announced that the actor succumbed to ALS complications on February 19th. Their message reads, “With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS.”
“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight,” the statement continued.
It heartbreakingly concluded, “He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
Dempsey worked with Dane closely for multiple years on Grey’s Anatomy, and just hours after his passing was announced, he honoured his late friend during an interview on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio.
Dempsey began by paying his condolences to Dane’s children, sharing, “I just woke up this morning and I was very sad to read the news. It’s hard to put into words. I feel really so sad for his children.
He then recalled the last time he spoke with Dane, sharing, “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.”
Dempsey painfully added of Dane’s condition, “He was bedridden and it was very hard for him to swallow, so the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly.”
Reflecting on their time on set together, he shared, “He was the funniest man – he was such a joy to work with and I want to just remember him in that spirit because any time he was on set, he brought so much fun to it. He had a great sense of humour.”
Dempsey then praised Dane for spreading awareness of ALS during his last months, stating, “He did an incredible job at bringing awareness to this horrible disease and those remaining days and it just reminds us that we all have to celebrate every day like it’s our last day.”
He poignantly added, “It’s something that we have to remember and certainly in a world where there is just so much crisis and there is so much tragedy that we really need to be grateful for every moment that we have.”
Dane is survived by his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two children, Billie and Georgia.
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