Dane died nearly one year after announcing his ALS diagnosis, at the age of 53 on Thursday, Feb. 19
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Patrick Dempsey; Eric Dane; Ellen Pompeo.Credit :
Jason Mendez/Getty; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Dominik Bindl/Getty
When Eric Dane revealed in April 2025 that he had been diagnosed with ALS, the actor, best known for playing Grey’s Anatomy‘s Dr. Mark Sloan — a.k.a. McSteamy — was immediately surrounded by support from the castmates who had become his television family.
Several of Dane’s former costars spoke publicly about reaching out to him in support as he navigated the devastating, progressive disease.
Patrick Dempsey, 60, told Parade in a cover interview last month that he still tried to keep in touch with his series costar months after Dane announced he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
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“I spoke to him a few weeks ago. I’ve been texting with him,” Dempsey said before revealing that he tried to have Dane cast in his new thriller Memory of a Killer.
He added, “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].”
Dane 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.
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Dane remained friends with Dempsey and hung out with his pal in 2020, when he and Dempsey showed fans how to properly practice social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic via an Instagram photo.
Meanwhile, Ellen Pompeo, 56, who starred opposite Dane for years on the ABC medical drama, shared that she contacted him as soon as she learned of the diagnosis and was struck by how quickly he responded.
The Golden Globe nominee showed love to her former costar in a pre-taped message at the ALS Network Champions for Cures & Care Gala, which honored him on Jan. 24.
“As soon as I heard about his diagnosis, I texted him, and I said, ‘I’m here if you want to speak,’ ” Pompeo recalled. “And my phone rang 30 seconds later.”
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Reflecting on their conversation, Pompeo said she told her friend she’d help him with “whatever you need, however I can help. I love you.”
“I’m really proud of you,” she added of Dane. “I love you so much and I am honored to get to speak about you today.”
Kate Walsh, 58, also spoke emotionally about her longtime friend, describing his ALS journey as “heartbreaking” and emphasizing that the Grey’s Anatomy cast had stayed closely connected with him following his diagnosis.
“It’s so painful. It’s really sad,” Walsh said in an interview with Variety. “I haven’t been in touch with him, but I’ve reached out and sent my love and support and strength. It’s so heartbreaking.”
She described Dane as “such a beautiful person and such an incredible man,” adding, “I’ve had other friends that have battled with this disease, and it’s just horrific. So my heart goes out to him.”
“I keep him, his family, his girls, in my prayers,” Walsh said.
In April 2025, Dane revealed to PEOPLE exclusively that he had been diagnosed with ALS and was “grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.” ALS is a rare degenerative disease that causes progressive paralysis of the muscles.
Dane died Thursday, Feb. 19, his family confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” read the statement. “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.”
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