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Patrick Dempsey remembers late ‘Grey’s  Anatomy’ co-star Eric Dane was ‘joyful and easy to work with’

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Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>Following the death of his <em>Grey’s Anatomy</em> co-star, actor Patrick Dempsey paid tribute to Eric Dane, whom he described as a funny and intelligent actor.</p><p>In an interview with Virgin Radio UK, Patrick opened up about how he felt upon learning of Eric’s passing after his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).</p><p>“I was very sad to read the news. It&#x27;s hard to put into words. I feel really so sad for his children,” Patrick said.</p><div><iframe width="315" height="576" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GFz9FL8ff24" title="Patrick Dempsey pays a heartfelt tribute to Grey’s Anatomy co-star Eric Dane🤍" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>He revealed that before Eric’s death, they were still in communication despite the latter’s deteriorating condition.</p><p>&quot;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,” Patrick recalled. &quot;He was bedridden and it was very hard for him to swallow, so the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly.”</p><p>Despite the heartbreaking news, Patrick said he prefers to remember his late co-star as someone he instantly clicked with.</p><p>&quot;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. He was easy to work with, we got along instantly,” Patrick said.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><br/><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771644923849SnapInsta.to_591162561_18077293220520916_5465686065238036042_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">disneyplusph / Instagram</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>The actor also looked back on his first scene with Eric, who portrayed Dr. Mark Sloan, also known as McSteamy, on <em>Grey&#x27;s Anatomy</em>, opposite Patrick’s Dr. Derek Shepherd.</p><p>&quot;First scene was him, you know, in all his glory, coming out of the bathroom with the towel on, looking amazing, making me feel completely out of shape and insignificant.” Patrick laughingly said. “We really hit it off because there was never really any competition. There was just this wonderful mutual respect.”</p><p>For Patrick, Eric will always be remembered as someone who brought joy to others, saying: &quot;He&#x27;s wickedly intelligent and I&#x27;m always going to remember those moments of fun that we had together and celebrate the joy that he did bring to people&#x27;s lives and the real loss is for us who don&#x27;t have them anymore.&quot;</p><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@eergreys/video/7566379791092288790" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7566379791092288790" id="v65027645833776456" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px"><iframe name="__tt_embed__v65027645833776456" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7566379791092288790?lang=en-US&amp;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-02-20T17%3A38%3A57.332168%3Afda642f6-b009-40fb-a1ac-a80e20202809%26action%3Dedit" style="width:100%;height:766px;display:block;visibility:unset"></iframe></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><p>He also commended Eric for courageously raising awareness about ALS and for the lessons his battle with the disease imparted to those around him.</p><p>&quot;He did an incredible job at bringing awareness to this horrible disease and those remaining days which was really brave of him to do. And it just reminds us that we all have to celebrate every day like it&#x27;s our last day,” Patrick said.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-16" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_qRU4wp-OY/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A16%2C%22os%22%3A11361961.699999928%2C%22ls%22%3A269750.59999990463%2C%22le%22%3A269997.2999999523%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="719" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-16" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>&quot;It&#x27;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 and these values with our leadership unfortunately that we&#x27;re seeing around the world and certainly in America with this horrible, you know, corrupt government that is currently running America. We have to remember to treat our neighbors and our friends with the right values,&quot; he added.</p><p>Eric’s passing shocked fans of the hit medical drama, as it came just almost a year after he publicly disclosed his ALS diagnosis.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-14" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8hnY4ZRNk7/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A14%2C%22os%22%3A11341088.199999928%2C%22ls%22%3A269750.59999990463%2C%22le%22%3A269997.2999999523%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-14" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>In a statement shared with PEOPLE, the actor’s family highlighted how he became a champion for ALS awareness during his battle with the disease.</p><p>&quot;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,&quot; the statement said.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/2/20/-grey-s-anatomy-star-eric-dane-passes-away-at-53-1106"><strong><u>READ: &#x27;Grey&#x27;s Anatomy&#x27; star Eric Dane passes away at 53</u></strong></a></div><div><strong> </strong></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-12" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8s24RfvTkt/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A12%2C%22os%22%3A11127090.299999952%2C%22ls%22%3A269750.59999990463%2C%22le%22%3A269997.2999999523%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-12" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Aside from <em>Grey’s Anatomy,</em> Eric also starred in <em>Euphoria</em> and <em>Countdown</em>, among other projects.</p>

<p>‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Patrick Dempsey paid tribute to co-star Eric Dane, who passed away after being diagnosed with ALS in 2025.</p>

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Patrick Dempsey paid tribute to co-star Eric Dane, who passed away after being diagnosed with ALS in 2025.

Patrick Dempsey remembers late ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ co-star Eric Dane was ‘joyful and easy to work with’

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Patrick Dempsey remembers late ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ co-star Eric Dane was ‘joyful and easy to work with’

Nikka Sabio,

Push Team

Published Feb 21, 2026 11:39 AM PHT

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Patrick Dempsey

Eric Dane

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