“Grey’s Anatomy” star Patrick Dempsey spoke out about the loss of his co-star Eric Dane, best known for playing Dr. Mark Sloan, a.k.a. McSteamy, who sadly passed away after a battle with ALS on Thursday, February 19. The actor was only 53.
Dane’s family confirmed his passing in an emotional statement:
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” the statement read. “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world. 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. 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 Says Dane Was the ‘Funniest Man’ & ‘a Joy to Work With’
GettyDuring a Friday, February 20, appearance on Virgin Radio U.K.’s “The Chris Evans Breakfast Show,” Dempsey said, “I just woke up this morning and it was very sad to read the news. It’s hard to put into words. 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,” Dempsey said. “He was bedridden and it was very hard for him to swallow so the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly.”
“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,” Dempsey said. “He had a great sense of humor. He was easy to work with. We got along instantly. First scene was him, you know, in all his glory, coming out of the bathroom with the towel on looking amazing, making you feel completely out of shape and insignificant.”
“We hit it off because it was never really any competition,” he added. “There was just this wonderful mutual respect, he’s wickedly intelligent and I’m always going to remember those moments of fun that we had together and celebrate the joy that he did bring to people’s lives and the real loss is for us who don’t have them anymore.”
“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,” the actor continued. “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 … spend time with our families, do things that are better, that benefit of other people to be of service to be kind, to be loving.”
Dempsey Calls Dane ‘Incredibly Courageous’ Amid ALS Battle
GettyDane and Dempsey appeared alongside each other on “Grey’s” starting from 2006, when Dane joined the cast for season 2 as a guest star before becoming a series regular through 2013. Dane departed in season 9, while Dempsey, whose character Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd debuted in the show’s premiere, exited the main cast in 2015’s season 11.
Dane revealed in April 2025 that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
“I have been diagnosed with ALS,” Dane shared with PEOPLE at the time. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”
The “Euphoria” actor was immediately surrounded by support from his castmates from “Grey’s Anatomy.” Dempsey told Parade in a January 2025 cover interview that he still tried to keep in touch with his series co-star months after Dane announced his diagnosis.
“I spoke to him a few weeks ago. I’ve been texting with him,” Dempsey said. The actor revealed that he tried to have Dane cast in his thriller “Memory of a Killer.”
“Unfortunately, the progression of his disease made it virtually impossible. But I was happy to see that he was here in Toronto working on, I think, another medical drama [‘Brilliant Minds’].”
Dempsey acknowledged “it’s very hard” for Dane, but he said he tries to “stay in touch” with him and “see how he’s doing.”
“I think he’s been incredibly courageous in the face of this horrible disease. He’s such a wonderful human being,” Dempsey said. “He has such a great sense of humor, and he’s so intelligent. I’ve always enjoyed working and being around Eric.”
“It’s heartbreaking,” he added. “It really is. For him and for his family. You feel for them when you see this terrible disease and how quickly it attacks the body. But he’s bringing a lot of light to that, and he’s using his platform in a positive way. I wish him the best.”
