Patrick Dempsey is giving"Grey's Anatomy"fans an update on hisonetime costar Eric Daneamidhis battle with ALS.
Dane and Dempsey played McSteamy and McDreamy, respectively, on the wildly popular medical series from writer Shonda Rhimes.
"I spoke to him a few weeks ago," Dempsey, 60,told Paradein a new interview, adding that he was trying to get him a spot on his new television show,"Memory of a Killer."The series, which premiered Jan. 25 on Fox, stars Dempsey as a hitman for hire.
Eric Dane played Dr. Mark Sloan, aka "McSteamy," on "Grey's Anatomy" for six seasons, but he's not done wooing his audiences yet. In 2025, Dane returned to TV on another medical drama, making his "Brilliant Minds" debut as "Bronx-Gen's favorite silver fox." Dane revealed in April that he'd been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS. See the actor's career in the spotlight from the early 2000's to now, including here as he attends the "Countdown" premiere and afterparty on June 18, 2025, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Rebecca Gayheart and Eric Dane attend the Chrysalis Third Annual Butterfly Ball at a private residence on April 17, 2004, in Beverly Hills, California. The former couple, who share two children, got married that year." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
From left: Publisher of OK! Magazine Tom Morrissey, general manager of A&E Robert DeBitetto, actor John Stamos, executive producer Craig Zadan, actor Eric Dane and entertainment media director of GLAAS Damon Romine arrive at the premiere of A&E original film "Wedding Wars" at the ArcLight Theater on Dec. 4, 2006, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Eric Dane and Patrick Dempsey pose during the 33rd annual People's Choice Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 9, 2007, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sara Ramirez and Eric Dane arrive at the 33rd annual People's Choice Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 9, 2007, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
From left, top to bottom: Ellen Pompeo, Kate Walsh, Chandra Wilson, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Sara Ramirez, Justin Chambers, Patrick Dempsey, James Pickens Jr., Eric Dane and T.R. Knight, winners of the ensemble in a drama series award for "Grey's Anatomy" pose in the press room during the 13th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 28, 2007, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Eric Dane, left, and Patrick Dempsey, winners of the ensemble in a drama series award for "Grey's Anatomy" pose in the press room during the 13th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 28, 2007, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Eric Dane and Ellen Pompeo attend a party for Dane and "Grey's Anatomy" cast members hosted by Men's Heath magazine at Tenjune May 14, 2007, in New York City." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Eric Dane arrives at the 12th annual GQ magazine Men of the Year celebration, Dec. 5, 2007, in Hollywood, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Eric Dane starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, right, and Owen Wilson, center, in "Marley & Me." They arrived together at the premiere at the Mann Village Theater on Dec. 11, 2008, in Westwood, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Lena Gercke and Eric Dane attend a party to celebrate the fifth anniversary of TV channel TNT Serie at Kesselhalle on May 8, 2014, in Munich, Germany." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
The Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, center, and Admiral Dawn Cutler present actor Eric Dane with a shadow box containing Navy medals earned by his father at the TNT "The Last Ship" Washington D.C. screening at The Newseum on June 12, 2015, in Washington, D.C." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Eric Dane speaks on stage at "The Last Ship" panel at Comic-Con on July 9, 2015, in San Diego, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Rebecca Gayheart, right, and Eric Dane with their children, Georgia Dane and Billie Beatrice Dane, at the 16th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball on June 3, 2017, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Adam Baldwin, Bridget Regan and Eric Dane at TNT's "The Last Ship" panel and exclusive sneak peek for Season 4 during Comic-Con on July 23, 2017, in San Diego, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Patrick Mahomes, Eric Dane, Lilly Singh and Jared Goff attend the 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
From left: Alexa Demie, Hunter Schafer, Eric Dane, Maude Apatow, Zendaya, Barbie Ferreira, Sydney Sweeney, Sam Levinson and Colman Domingo attend the HBO Max FYC event for "Euphoria" at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 20, 2022, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John C. McGinley and Eric Dane, right, who was the 2022 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award Recipient, attend the Global Down Syndrome Foundation's 14th annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself fashion show at the Sheraton Downtown Denver Hotel on Nov. 12, 2022, in Denver." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Eric Dane and his daughters Billie Beatrice Dane and Georgia Dane attend the premiere of "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on May 30, 2024." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Eric Dane shakes hands with Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz during a news conference to discuss health insurance at the Department of Health and Human Services Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on June 23, 2025. During the press conference Kennedy and Oz announced a plan they hope will streamline pre-authorizations for health procedures by health insurance providers." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From 'Grey's Anatomy' to 'Brilliant Minds,' see Eric Dane's career
Eric Daneplayed Dr. Mark Sloan, aka "McSteamy," on "Grey's Anatomy" for six seasons, but he's not done wooing his audiences yet. In 2025, Dane returned to TV on another medical drama, makinghis "Brilliant Minds" debutas "Bronx-Gen's favorite silver fox."Dane revealed in April that he'd been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS. See the actor's career in the spotlight from the early 2000's to now, including here as he attends the "Countdown" premiere and afterparty on June 18, 2025, in Los Angeles.
Eric Dane forced to miss eventdue to 'physical realities' of ALS
"I've been texting with him," he told the outlet. " We were trying 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."
Danemade aguest appearance on "Brilliant Minds"in November, playing a firefighter alsosuffering from ALS. The illness, sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease, "causes progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain,"according to Johns Hopkins. There is currently no cure.
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"I have never seen this happen in my entire career, but he essentially got a 10-minute standing ovation after shooting that scene, because it was so beautiful and so honest and so real," series creator Michael Grassitold USA TODAYat the time.
Eric Dane 'grateful' to continueacting amid ALS battle
"It's very hard for him, but I do try to stay in touch and see how he's doing," the "Grey's" actor said. "I think he's been incredibly courageous in the face of this horrible disease. He's such a wonderful human being. He has such a great sense of humor, and he's so intelligent.
"I've always enjoyed working and being around Eric. It's heartbreaking. It really is," Dempsey continued. "For him and for his family. You feel for them when you see this terrible disease and how quickly it attacks the body. But he's bringing a lot of light to that, and he's using his platform in a positive way. I wish him the best."
Since revealing his diagnosis in April, Dane has sought to bring attention to the disorder. In June, he traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak with U.S. Health SecretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr. at a hearing on plans by several health insurance companies to simplify and reduce the prior authorization system.
Contributing: Erin Jensen, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Patrick Dempsey talks Eric Dane's 'heartbreaking' ALS diagnosis
