Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo shared the heartbreaking moment she found out about Eric Dane’s motor neurone disease (MND) diagnosis.
The 56-year-old actress honoured her former co-star Dane, 53, at the ALS Network Champions for Cures & Care Gala, which took place in January.
“As soon as I heard, I texted him, ‘I’m here if you want to speak,” recalled Pompeo, as reported by People. “And my phone rang 30 seconds later.”
Pompeo, who could not attend the gala in person, reflected on the moment she learned of the news in a pre-recorded video.
“Whatever you need, however I can help. I love you,” she remembered telling Dane after the actor revealed his health battle in April last year.
Dane was also unable to attend the event in person.
Pompeo said she was proud of her co-star who she met 20 years ago on set of the hit medical series, and spoke fondly of their “instant chemistry”.
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“I remember when he came in as McSteamy… and I immediately just fell in love with him,” she said.
Dane was first diagnosed with MND, known in America mostly as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), aka Lou Gehrig’s disease, in April 2025.
It is a progressive degenerative disease that affects motor nerves that allow a person to move, swallow, talk and breathe. The exact cause is not known.
Late last year Dane spoke at a virtual event for the non-profit organisation I am ALS where he addressed the mental toll of the disease.
“I have no reason to be in a good spirit at any time, on any given day,” he said.
“I don’t think anybody would blame me if I went upstairs in my bedroom, crawled under the sheets, and spent the next two weeks crying.
“[But] I was a little bit pleasantly surprised when I realised that I wasn’t built like that, because I thought for sure that was gonna be me.”
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Dane rose to fame on Grey’s Anatomy, where he played the handsome Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan from 2006 – 2012.
He joined Pompeo, best known for playing title character Dr. Meredith Grey in the series, during the second season two decades ago.
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