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Patrick Dempsey Shares Update on 'Grey’s Anatomy' Costar Eric Dane's ALS Battle
Hollywood is coming together in the wake of Eric Dane’s death.
Shortly after the Grey’s Anatomy alum’s wife Rebecca Gayheart and their daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, announced he had died Feb. 19 following a battle with ALS, many of his friends and former costars shared their grief.
“Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Eric,” his Redeeming Love costar Nina Dobrev wrote on her Instagram Stories alongside a picture on set with him. “He was warm, generous, prepared, and so passionate about what he did. He led with kindness and made everyone on our set feel seen.”
The 37-year-old also reflected on his ALS diagnosis, which he revealed in April.
“ALS is a cruel and unforgiving disease,” Nina continued. “May his memory inspire more research, awareness, and progress toward a cure. He will be deeply missed.”
Alyssa Milano, who played Eric’s love interest on Charmed, reflected on her friendship with the Euphoria actor, too.
“I can't stop seeing that spark in Eric's eye right before he'd say something that would either make you spit out your drink or rethink your entire perspective,” she wrote on Instagram. “He had a razor-sharp sense of humor. He loved the absurdity of things.”
She added, “My heart is with the people who were lucky enough to be his home.”
Eric’s Valentine’s Day costar Ashton Kutcher also shared his heartbreak.
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“The Franklin strip fanatics fantasy football league will miss Mr. Eric Dane,” the That ‘70s Show actor wrote on X. “We know you’ll be watching from the booth. Miss you, buddy. Let’s keep fighting the fight to solve ALS.”
Meanwhile, his Grey’s costar Kevin McKidd shared a picture of Eric to his Instagram Stories, simply writing, “Rest in Peace Buddy.”
Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images
Of course, his Euphoria family shared their condolences, too, with creator Sam Levinson telling Variety in a statement, “I’m heartbroken by the loss of our dear friend Eric. Working with him was an honor. Being his friend was a gift. Eric’s family is in our prayers. May his memory be for a blessing.”
Read on to see what other stars had to say in the wake of Eric’s passing.
Monica Schipper/WireImage
Paul Walter Hauser
The I, Tonya actor—who costarred alongside Eric in the 2023 film Americana—reflected on his friendship with the Grey's Anatomy actor.
"We tried to book gigs, we tried to laugh at the pain and we tried to stay sober," Paul wrote on Instagram. "I’m glad we got to play together in Americana."
He added, "I love you, man. I wish we had more time. Enjoy the arms of Father God. I’ll see you again."
Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images
Maria Shriver
The journalist shared she was "heartbroken" by the "devastating news" of Eric's death.
"He was so heroic the way he handled his diagnosis," she wrote on X." He used his voice to let the world know what it was like living with ALS."
She added of his upcoming memoir, being published under her imprint, "He told me he wanted his family to know how much he loved them, and he wanted to leave them a story they could be proud of."
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Selma Blair
The Cruel Intentions actress—who worked with Dane on the ‘90s show Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane—offered her condolences by tagging the late actor in an Instagram Story and writing, “I love you. And yours.”
Alexandra Wyman/WireImage
Ashton Kutcher
The That '70s Show actor reflected on the fun he had in a Fantasy Football league with Eric, writing on X, "The Franklin strip fanatics fantasy football league will miss Mr. Eric Dane. We know you’ll be watching from the booth. Miss you, buddy. Let’s keep fighting the fight to solve ALS."
Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO
Sam Levinson
The Euphoria creator shared that his friendship with Dane—who played Cal Jacobs on the HBO series—was “a gift” following his tragic passing.
“I’m heartbroken by the loss of our dear friend Eric,” he said in a statement to Variety. “Working with him was an honor. Being his friend was a gift. Eric’s family is in our prayers. May his memory be for a blessing.”
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Nina Dobrev
“Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Eric,” his Redeeming Love costar wrote on her Instagram Stories alongside a picture on set with him. “He was warm, generous, prepared, and so passionate about what he did. He led with kindness and made everyone on our set feel seen.”
She added, “ALS is a cruel and unforgiving disease. May his memory inspire more research, awareness, and progress toward a cure. He will be deeply missed.”
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Alyssa Milano
The Charmed actress commemorated her friendship with Eric, who played her onscreen love interest on the show.
"I can’t stop seeing that spark in Eric’s eye right before he’d say something that would either make you spit out your drink or rethink your entire perspective," she wrote on Instagram. "He had a razor-sharp sense of humor. He loved the absurdity of things. He loved catching people off guard."
And she credited him with her daring 2003 look.
"He convinced me to get my pixie cut and my nose piercing," Alyssa continued. "He also was with me on the walk when we found Lucy, my beloved rescue chihuahua. He called me 'Milano,' as if it was the only part of my name that mattered."
She concluded, "My heart is with the people who were lucky enough to be his home."
Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Kevin McKidd
The Grey’s Anatomy alum—who played Owen Hunt opposite Dane’s Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on the ABC medical drama—shared a photo of his costar to Instagram Stories along with the caption, “Rest in peace buddy.”
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images
Phaedra Parks
The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum remembered Eric’s moniker on Grey’s Anatomy, writing on Instagram, “Sweet baby Jesus not McSteamy Lord.”
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