Patrick Dempsey wanted Eric Dane on his new show amid the ALS battle
Patrick Dempsey was looking for a full McDreamy reunion with Erik Dane in his new show!
The Grey’s anatomy alum, 60, shared in a Wednesday, January 28, interview with Parade how he has supported the former costar through Dane’s ALS battle, which the actor first revealed last year.
“I spoke to him a few weeks ago. I texted with him,” Dempsey said, adding that he had hoped to recruit Dane, 53, for his new Fox crime drama. Memory of a murderer.
“We tried to get him in [Killer] but 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,” Dempsey said, referring to Dane’s recent guest appearance on NBC’s Brilliant minds.
Dempsey and Dane played best friends Dr. for several seasons. Derek Shepherd (aka McSteamy) and Dr. Mark Sloan (aka McSteamy). Grey’s anatomy.
Despite both stars leaving the long-running medical drama more than a decade ago, Dempsey said he remains close to Dane and reflected on his former co-star’s ALS diagnosis.
“It’s very difficult for him, but I’m trying to keep in touch and see how he’s doing,” the actor said. “I think he has been incredibly brave in the face of this terrible disease. He is such a wonderful person. He has such a great sense of humor and he is so intelligent. I have always enjoyed working and being around Eric.”
“It’s heartbreaking. It really is. For him and for his family. You feel for them when you see this terrible disease and how quickly it attacks the body,” Dempsey added. “But he brings a lot of light to that and he uses his platform in a positive way. I wish him the best.”
Dane first revealed that he was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or motor neurone disease, in April 2025. According to the Mayo Clinic, ALS is a “disease of the nervous system that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord” and causes loss of muscle control over time.
“I have been diagnosed with ALS,” Dane said People last year. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”
He continued: “I feel fortunate to be able to continue working and look forward to returning [the] set of Euphoria next week. I kindly ask that you grant my family and me privacy during this period.”
As well as appearing in Euphoria season 3, Dane guest-starred on an episode of NBC’s in November Brilliant mindsin which he plays a firefighter struggling to share his ALS diagnosis with his family. In a panel discussion in November in conjunction with I AM ALS, Dane said he will continue to work on raising awareness for ALS as much as he can.
“I’m not going to give up my purpose to an illness. I’m just not capable of doing that,” he said. “I have no reason to be in a good mood at any time, on any given day. I don’t think anyone would blame me if I went upstairs to my bedroom, crawled under the sheets and cried for the next two weeks. And I was kind of pleasantly surprised when I realized I wasn’t built that way, because I definitely thought I would be.”
He added: “I think it’s imperative that I share my journey with as many people as possible because I don’t feel like my life revolves around me anymore.”
