Patrick Dempsey shared an emotional tribute to his former Grey’s Anatomy costar, Eric Dane, following Dane’s death at age 53.
During a Friday, February 20, appearance on Virgin Radio U.K.’s The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, Dempsey, 60, 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.”
The former McDreamy actor went on to share details about Dane’s final days, revealing that mutual friends recently visited the late star. Dane died Thursday, February 19, nearly a year after revealing his ALS diagnosis.
“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.”
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Dempsey went on to share memories of working with Dane on Grey’s Anatomy, including Dane’s iconic first scene in the show, in which he stepped out of a shower in just a towel.
“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 humour. 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.”
Dempsey also praised Dane for raising awareness around ALS in the final months of his life.
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“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 said. “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.”
Dane’s family confirmed the Charmed actor’s death in a statement to Us Weekly on Thursday.
“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.”
