Patrick Dempsey paid an emotional tribute to his Grey’s Anatomy co-star Eric Dane, who died at 59 after a courageous battle with ALS
Patrick Dempsey has opened up about the heartbreaking loss of his Grey’s Anatomy co-star, Eric Dane.
Beloved actor Eric Dane passed away on Thursday at the age of 53, following a courageous and very public battle with ALS, which he was diagnosed with in April of last year.
Best known to devoted fans as the charming Dr. Mark Sloan, affectionately nicknamed McSteamy in Grey’s Anatomy, the much-admired star had reportedly been receiving round-the-clock care in his final days as he fought the relentless neurodegenerative disease.
Speaking to Magic Radio’s Jo Russell this morning, Patrick told Jo: “I had a very hard time getting started this morning.”
“He always made me laugh, he was so funny, he had a great sense of humour, he was always great to work with, always very professional, really smart.”
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“I hit it off with him immediately he came into the show, he wasn’t part of the original cast and he wasn’t sure how I would take to it… he comes out in his first scene, half-dressed, looking like this Adonis and we had a great time and just laughed about it!”
“I will miss him, as will all the fans, but the great thing is we have him in all his glory on the show, so that when you watch it he’s still very much alive.”
Once a familiar face on red carpets and at high-profile events, Eric gradually withdrew from the spotlight as his condition worsened following his diagnosis.
His last public appearance was captured in October 2025, when he was photographed in a wheelchair. Prior to that, one of his final outings saw him looking remarkably stylish at the St. Regis hotel in Washington, D.C. , in September 2025.
In those photographs, Eric was pictured seated on a sofa in a composed and dignified manner, legs crossed, dressed in a dark crewneck jumper layered over a button-down shirt, dark trousers, and distinctive black-rimmed sunglasses with orange lenses, reports the Mirror US .
Following the devastating news of his death, tributes flooded in from heartbroken fans on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“WHAT? I just saw him in Euphoria and thought he was doing okay… this is devastating,” one user wrote, whilst another added: “May his soul rest in peace, it not easy dealing with a terminal disease.”
A third person wrote, “I’m absolutely heartbroken to hear about the passing of Eric Dane at just 53 years old. Known to so many as the charismatic Dr. Mark ‘McSteamy’ Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy and for his powerful role in Euphoria, he brought such depth and charm to every character he portrayed. RIP.”
Another mourner posted, “This is the saddest news. Rest in peace, Eric Dane. You will always be our McSteamy,” whilst one devastated fan commented, “That’s awful news. 53 is no age, and ALS is just cruel. He had that rare screen presence where one look could carry a whole scene. Rest in peace. Bye-bye.”
Before landing his iconic part on Grey’s Anatomy, Dane featured in several TV programmes, including Charmed, Gideon’s Crossing, and Saved by the Bell. After leaving Grey’s Anatomy behind, he took on the lead role of Captain Tom Chandler in TNT’s post-apocalyptic thriller The Last Ship, which ran from 2014 until 2018.
Subsequently, he portrayed the menacing and sexually twisted billionaire Cal Jacobs, father to Jacob Elordi’s deeply troubled Nate Jacobs, in Euphoria. Dane joined the HBO series from its first season in 2019 and was set to appear in the eagerly anticipated third season due for release imminently.
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