Patrick Dempsey Shares Update on Grey’s Costar Eric Dane’s ALS Battle

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Dr. Shepherd has been paging Dr. Sloan.

Patrick Dempsey, known for his role on Grey’s Anatomy, has been keeping in touch with his former co-star Eric Dane, who revealed he’s battling ALS in April. Dempsey recently shared an update on how Dane is doing.

Patrick recently told Parade magazine that he’d reached out to Eric a few weeks prior, hoping he’d appear as a guest star on his show, Memory of a Killer. Sadly, Eric’s health had declined to the point where it wasn’t feasible. Patrick was glad to hear Eric was still working, though, filming what he believes was a different medical series, Brilliant Minds, in Toronto.

Oh, it just breaks my heart to think about him! He’s really going through a tough time, but I make such an effort to check in on him, you know? I just want to make sure he’s okay and see how he’s really doing. It’s so important to me.

Despite the physical challenges caused by ALS – a disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s – Eric was unable to attend an event on January 24th recognizing his work as an advocate. However, Patrick highlighted Eric’s courage in facing this difficult neurodegenerative condition.

The actor, known for Sweet Home Alabama, shared that Eric has been remarkably brave while battling this difficult illness. He described Eric as a truly kind and funny person, and someone he’s always loved working with and being around.

Patrick spoke about Eric’s relationship with his former partner, Rebecca Gayheart, and their daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, saying it was very sad for everyone involved. He noted the devastating speed of the disease Eric is battling, but praised Eric for raising awareness and using his public voice for good.

Ever since Eric announced his ALS diagnosis in April, he’s been clear about why it’s so important for him to share what he’s going through. He recently explained that he feels his life is now about more than just himself.

At 53, she explained during an online discussion with the organization I AM ALS that she needs a purpose beyond herself. She said focusing solely on her own needs wouldn’t allow her to move forward, and that helping others has become a driving force in her life.

Eric explained that he wants to raise awareness about ALS, what the disease involves, and, crucially, how we can fight it and create a better future for those affected.

Read on for a closer look at the details of Eric’s battle with ALS. 

Eric Dane revealed he received a diagnosis of ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, in April 2025.

Dane shared with People magazine that he has been diagnosed with ALS. He expressed gratitude for the support of his family as they face this new challenge together.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the news about the Euphoria star, and I want to share that he’s actually continuing to work despite his recent health news. He confirmed back in April 2025 that he’s still filming the last season of the HBO show, which is fantastic to hear! He’s definitely not slowing down.

I’ve been following Dane’s career for a while now, and it was really inspiring to hear him talk about how acting has actually helped him stay mentally strong while dealing with his health challenges. He said working on his new Amazon MGM Studios series, Countdown, which came out this summer, has kept him ‘sharp,’ and I can totally see that. It’s amazing how he’s using his work to stay positive and focused.

He told TopMob News in June 2025 that he genuinely enjoys his work. While he’s faced some challenges, he generally feels positive and maintains a good outlook, which he says is the most important thing.

Two months after revealing he was diagnosed with a health condition, the former Grey’s Anatomy star openly discussed what he’s been going through, including the signs that first led him to seek medical attention.

In a June 2025 interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, Dane shared that he first noticed weakness in his right hand. He didn’t think much of it initially, assuming it was from overuse or tiredness. However, a few weeks later, he realized the weakness was getting worse.

After nine months of doctor’s visits – seeing two hand specialists and two neurologists – Dane received a diagnosis of ALS.

The father of two said he’ll never forget seeing those three letters. They’re the first thing he thinks about when he wakes up, and it feels completely real, not like a dream.

He explained how the rare disease has impacted his physical health and shared his expectations for how it will progress in the future.

Oh my god, hearing Dane talk about it just broke me. He said, and I’m still reeling, that his left side is still working, but his right side… it’s just completely gone. He actually said he thinks in a couple of months, he might lose use of his left hand too! It’s just… so sobering to hear him talk about it like that. It really hits you how serious it is. I can’t even imagine.

After more than 20 years of marriage, Rebecca Gayheart has been supporting her husband, Dane, through his recent health challenges. The couple had previously filed for divorce in 2018, but Rebecca requested the case be dismissed in March.

Dane told Sawyer that he speaks with Rebecca daily. They’ve grown closer as friends and parents, and she’s his biggest supporter and someone he relies on heavily.

According to Gayheart, she and Dane are the “best of friends.”

The Beverly Hills, 90210 star told TopMob News on April 9, 2025, that they have a strong co-parenting relationship. They’ve found a way to successfully maintain a family dynamic, which they believe is really positive for both their children and themselves.

Dane has been celebrating important moments with his daughters, Billie and Georgia, but he’s also shared that he feels upset about how his ALS is impacting his family.

The actor shared during an interview with GMA that he’s struggling with the possibility of his daughters experiencing a similar loss to his own – his father died by suicide when he was a child. He explained that all he wants is to be present for his family and continue working when possible.

Dane was scheduled to present at the 2025 Emmys with his Grey’s Anatomy co-star, Jesse Williams, on September 14th, but he couldn’t make it. He later revealed that he had to go to the hospital, which is why he missed the awards show.

In an interview with The Washington Post published on October 2nd, he revealed he was in the hospital receiving stitches during the Emmys, explaining, “ALS is a terrible disease.”

“I was a really upset about it,” Dane added. “But you know, there was nothing I could do about it.”

In September 2025, Dane met with doctors and representatives from the I Am ALS organization to discuss research funding for ALS, a neurological disease that currently has no cure. He also spoke with California Congressman Eric Swalwell about securing federal funding for this research.

In a TikTok video shared by Representative Swalwell on September 29th, Dane said, “I want to experience everything life has to offer.” He explained his motivation by saying, “I have two daughters, and I want to be there to see them graduate college, get married, and maybe even have children of their own.”

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2026-01-29 03:47