Watch: Patrick Dempsey Shares Update on 'Grey's Anatomy' Costar Eric Dane's ALS BattleEllen Pompeo is supporting Eric Dane amid his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Indeed, the Grey's Anatomy star-who costarred with Eric on the medical series for six seasons-opened up about finding out her longtime friend was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease. "As soon as I heard about his diagnosis, I texted him, and I said, 'I'm here if you want to speak,'" Ellen said in a pre-taped message at the ALS Network Champions for Cures & Care Gala Jan. 24, per People. "And my phone rang 30 seconds later." At the time, Ellen offered to help Eric, 53-who played her character Meredith Grey's colleague Mark "McSteamy" Sloan-with "whatever you need, however I can help. I love you." "I'm really proud of you," she added. "I love you so much and I am honored to get to speak about you today." Ellen, 56, also reflected on working with the Euphoria actor for the first time when he joined the show during season two. "I remember when he came in as McSteamy and us having instant electric chemistry," she explained, "and I immediately just fell in love with him."readEric Dane Skips Award Event "Due to the Physical Realities" of ALSAhead of the gala, the ALS Network revealed that Eric-who announced his ALS diagnosis in April-was forced to miss the event, where he was recognized as Advocate of the Year. "The ALS Network has been informed that Eric Dane had hoped to join us this evening to accept his Advocate of the Year Award, but due to the physical realities of ALS, he is not well enough to attend," the organization said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the event. "We remain deeply grateful for his courage, advocacy, and continued commitment to the ALS community, and we honor him fully this evening with our profound respect and support."Photo by Scott Garfield/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty ImagesBut Ellen isn't the only Grey's star who has been supporting Eric amid his health journey. Recently, Patrick Dempsey-who played Eric's onscreen best friend Derek Shepherd-shared that the pair had "been texting." "I spoke to him a few weeks ago," Patrick told Parade in an interview published Jan. 28, explaining he tried to get Eric-dad to kids Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, with estranged wife Rebecca Gayheart-to guest star on his TV show Memory of a Killer. "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 [Brilliant Minds]." Though the 60-year-old noted that the disease, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, has been "very hard" for Eric, Patrick is inspired by his pal's bravery. "He's been incredibly courageous in the face of this horrible disease," the Sweet Home Alabama actor continued. "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." For a closer look into Eric's health journey, read on...(VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)Opening Up About His Private Health Battle Eric Dane shared that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in April 2025. "I have been diagnosed with ALS," Dane told People at the time. "I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter."Todd Williamson/January Images/ShutterstockReturning to SetThe Euphoria star made it clear that he wasn't stepping away from the screen amid his diagnosis, sharing in April 2025 that he was continuing to film the final season of the HBO series. And Dane, whose Amazon MGM Studios series Countdown debuted over the summer, admitted that acting has kept him "sharp" has he navigates his health battle. "I feel great when I'm at work," he explained to E! News in June 2025. "Of course, there have been some sort of setbacks, but I feel pretty good. My spirit is always pretty buoyant, so at the end of the day, that's all that matters."FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty ImagesDetailing His First Symptoms Two months after sharing his diagnosis, the Grey's Anatomy alum spoke candidly about his journey, including the symptoms that led to his diagnosis. "I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand," Dane told Diane Sawyer in a sit-down on Good Morning America in June 2025. "I didn't really think anything of it at the time. I thought maybe I'd been texting too much or my hand was fatigued, but a few weeks later I noticed it got a little worse." After nine months of appointments, which involved visiting two hand specialists and two neurologists, Dane was told he had ALS. "I will never forget those three letters," the father of two explained. "It's on me the second I wake up. It's not a dream."John Salangsang/Shutterstock"Sobering" Road AheadWhile sharing how the rare degenerative disease has affected him physically so far, he also detailed where he s