Grey’s Anatomy‘s Patrick Dempsey reflected on the emotional public response to the death of his former costar Eric Dane.
“It’s very hard when you lose a family member. I lost my father very young, and my mother has passed,” Dempsey, 60, told News Talk FM on Tuesday, February 24. “And now several friends in the last year I’ve lost.”
Dempsey opened up about the outpouring of support for Dane’s loved ones, adding, “Eric was so beloved, and I think he would really be so happy to know — and I know a lot of people reached out to him before his passing to keep track — that he was so beloved and is deeply missed.”
News broke on February 19 that Dane died after battling ALS, which is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and has no cure.
“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,” read a statement from Dane’s family. “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.”
The statement concluded: “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.”
Dempsey subsequently opened up about seeing Dane before his death.
“I feel really so sad for his children,” Dempsey said on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show one day later about Dane’s daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, whom he shared with Rebecca Gayheart. “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 found it hard to see Dane’s health take a turn. “He was bedridden and it was very hard for him to swallow, so the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly,” he added. “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.”
While discussing their friendship, Dempsey also honored Dane’s work ethic. “He had a great sense of humor. He was easy to work with, we got along instantly,” Dempsey shared. “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.”
In the wake of his death, Dane’s friends set up a GoFundMe to raise money for his family. “Any contribution, no matter the size, will help provide stability during this incredibly difficult time and in the future for Eric’s wonderful daughters,” the website reads.
The fundraiser set a goal of $500,000 and has raised more than $466,000 as of Thursday, February 26.
