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Patrick Dempsey had heartbreaking last words about Eric Dane before co-star's death at 53
Patrick Dempsey shared heartbreaking final words about Eric Dane before his co-star's death.
As widely reported, the 53-year-old actor, best known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, sadly passed away on Thursday (February 19) afternoon.
The late actor's family issued an emotional statement to PEOPLE, which read: "With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS. 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," the statement concluded.
Patrick Dempsey Remembers Dane’s Courage
The 60-year-old actor, who portrayed Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd alongside Dane’s Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on Grey's Anatomy, candidly opened up about a conversation he had with the late actor in a recent interview.
Speaking to Parade, Dempsey revealed that he was in contact with Dane and had hoped to have him appear in his new Fox series Memory of a Killer. However, due to the progression of Dane’s ALS, it became clear that this would no longer be possible.
“It’s very hard for him, but I do try to stay in touch and see how he’s doing. I think he’s been incredibly courageous in the face of this horrible disease," he said. “He’s such a wonderful human being. 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. It really is. For him and for his family.” He added, “You feel for them when you see this terrible disease and how quickly it attacks the body.”
A Tribute on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show
The Euphoria actor died nearly a year after announcing he was diagnosed with the degenerative nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, and causes increasing muscle paralysis over time.
After hearing of Dane’s death, Dempsey shared an emotional tribute on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show: “I just woke up this morning and it was very sad to read the news,” he said. “It’s hard to put into words. I feel really so sad for his children.”
“He was really starting to lose his ability to speak. He was bedridden and it was very hard for him to swallow, so the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly,” he said.
Remembering Dane’s infectious personality, the Enchanted star recalled: “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 humor.”
“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,” he said with a laugh.
“There was never really any competition,” he explained. “He’s wickedly intelligent and I’m always going to remember those moments of fun that we had together.”
Dempsey ended his tribute with a powerful message about the importance of cherishing each day.
“He did an incredible job at bringing awareness to this horrible disease and those remaining days,” he said. “It just reminds us that we all have to celebrate every day like it’s our last day."
"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," he concluded.
Dane’s Legacy and ALS Advocacy
Dane’s final moments were marked by his continued advocacy for ALS awareness.
Just days before Christmas, the actor joined the Target ALS Foundation’s Board of Directors, committing to furthering research and progress in the fight against ALS.
In a post shared on Instagram, he expressed his determination to make a difference, writing: “This disease takes something from me every day. But I won’t let it take my spirit. Target ALS embodies that relentless spirit, and that’s why I’m joining the Board."
He added, “I’m looking forward to working alongside the Target ALS team to continue pushing the limits of what’s possible and changing what it means to get an ALS diagnosis. This community deserves effective treatments, and I want to do my part to deliver them.”
Tragically, Dane passed away just a few months after joining the board, but his legacy as a passionate advocate for ALS research will live on.