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Patrick Dempsey has revealed that Eric Dane’s devastating battle with ALS made it hard for the former “Grey’s Anatomy” co-stars to reunite for a new show that released over the weekend.
“I spoke to him a few weeks ago. I’ve been texting with him,” Dempsey, 60, told Parade during an interview published Wednesday.
“We were trying to get him in [“Memory of a Killer”], but unfortunately, the progression of his disease made it virtually impossible,” Dempsey continued. “But I was happy to see that he was here in Toronto working on, I think, another medical drama.”
Dane, 53, was unable to appear alongside Dempsey in “Memory of a Killer,” which premiered on Fox Sunday night, due to his ALS battle.
However, the “Euphoria” actor was able to guest star as a 9/11 hero firefighter diagnosed with the debilitating disease in an episode of the NBC series “Brilliant Minds” that aired this past November.
Dempsey went on to open up about his fellow “Grey’s Anatomy” alum’s ongoing battle with ALS and how Dane has been handling the heartbreaking diagnosis.
“It’s very hard for him, but I do try to stay in touch and see how he’s doing,” the actor shared. “I think he’s been incredibly courageous in the face of this horrible disease.”
“He’s such a wonderful human being,” Dempsey continued. “He has such a great sense of humor, and he’s so intelligent. I’ve always enjoyed working and being around Eric.”
Dempsey went on to call Dane’s ALS battle “heartbreaking” for both the “Charmed” alum and his family.
“You feel for them when you see this terrible disease and how quickly it attacks the body,” Dempsey said. “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,” he concluded.
Dempsey, who portrayed Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd, and Dane, who played Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan, starred together in “Grey’s Anatomy” from Dane’s start as a series regular during Season 3 in 2006 until his exit during the premiere of Season 9 in 2012.
As for Dempsey, he appeared as a main cast member from the show’s beginning in 2005 until his departure during Season 11 in 2015.
Shortly before the “Enchanted” star’s interview with Parade this week, it was revealed that Dane had to drop out of an ALS event at the last minute “due to the physical realities” of the deadly disease.
Dane, who first shared his diagnosis with the world in April 2025, was set to receive the Advocate of the Year Award at the ALS Network’s Champions for Cures and Care Gala on Saturday.
“The ALS Network has been informed that Eric Dane had hoped to join us this evening to accept his Advocate of the Year Award, but due to the physical realities of ALS, he is not well enough to attend,” a spokesperson for the organization told The Hollywood Reporter over the weekend.
“We remain deeply grateful for his courage, advocacy and continued commitment to the ALS community, and we honor him fully this evening with our profound respect and support,” the ALS Network added.
Dane, who now uses a wheelchair and has only one functioning arm, has made it his mission to talk about his ALS diagnosis to help others.
Although the “Charmed” alum noted that his family, including estranged wife Rebecca Gayheart and their two daughters, is still his “priority,” he also made sure to emphasize that discussing ALS is “such a big deal” to him as well.
English (US)