patrick dempsey Opening up about his Grey’s Anatomy The co-star’s status in the days before his death. Eric Dane On Thursday, less than a year after announcing the devastating diagnosis, he lost his battle with ALS. The man who played Dr. Mark Sloan on the hit medical drama had a special relationship with Patrick throughout his time on the show.
According to Patrick, he and Eric had been messaging for about a week before his death. As is often the case with people with Lou Gehrig’s disease, Eric’s condition changed rapidly and suddenly when Patrick and some friends came to see him in the hospital.
Patrick Dempsey says Eric Dane’s condition “rapidly deteriorated” before he died.
By all accounts, Patrick’s last memories of Eric alive were very different from their years spent as close friends on the show. The man who plays Derek Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy says when he and others went to meet Eric, he wasn’t looking well. In an interview with Virgin Radio UK, Patrick says that Eric was bedridden and struggling to swallow and speak. He says his overall condition “deteriorated very rapidly.”
Patrick recalled his time with Eric on Grey’s Anatomy, with the former nicknamed McDreamy and the latter McSteamy. Patrick described Eric as the funniest person, who often brought joy to a show’s set. “We got along immediately,” Patrick announced.
Upon receiving his diagnosis, Eric knew with certainty that his time on Earth would not be long. Before he died, Eric stated that helping someone was his greatest goal. There is still no cure for ALS, and most cases have no known cause.
For his part, Patrick was incredibly impressed by everything Eric did to raise awareness of the terminal disease. He says this is a reminder to all of us to celebrate every day as if it is our last. Eric was married to Rebecca Gayheart in October 2004. 53-year-old Eric leaves behind two children.
Tell us – thanks to Eric’s work in raising awareness, do you think we’ll find a cure for ALS soon?