Kate Walsh, known for her role as a love interest to Eric Dane on Grey’s Anatomy, has spoken about how difficult it is to see him battle amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a serious disease.
In the show’s first few seasons, a complicated love story between Addison Montgomery, Mark Sloan, Meredith Grey, and Derek Shepherd took center stage.
After becoming well-known for their roles on the long-running hospital show, Dane shared last year that he’s been diagnosed with ALS, also called motor neurone disease in some parts of the world and Lou Gehrig’s disease in the United States.
It’s just… devastating. This disease, it slowly steals everything. It attacks the nerves, you know? And as it does, your muscles just… stop working. It’s a progressive thing, meaning it gets worse and worse, and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it. Absolutely nothing. It’s heartbreaking to even think about.
Since being diagnosed, 53-year-old Dane’s health has rapidly worsened. He now uses a wheelchair, has lost function in one arm, and recently had to cancel a public event due to the physical challenges of his illness.
According to People magazine, Walsh, 58, has described Dane’s condition as incredibly painful and heartbreaking. While he hasn’t spoken to Dane directly, he has sent messages of love and support.
She described him as a wonderful person and an amazing man, and shared that she’s seen others struggle with this illness, which she found devastating.
She expressed her sympathy for Dane, saying she’s been praying for him, his family, and his daughters. Despite being separated, Dane and his ex-wife, Rebecca Gayheart, are working together to support Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, as he faces health challenges.
I’ve been a fan of the show for years, and I remember when Addison, played by Kate Walsh, first came on. It was such a surprise to see her as Derek Shepherd – ‘McDreamy’ as we all call him –’s soon-to-be ex-wife. It really shook things up and added a lot of drama!
Their marriage ended before the show even began when she had an affair with Mark Sloan, nicknamed ‘McSteamy’ for his womanizing ways. She then left him after finding out he was also cheating, and she later had an abortion when she learned he was unfaithful.
During the first few seasons of the show, Addison tries to rekindle her relationship with Derek, but her ex-husband is falling for Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo).
Addison is hurt by Derek’s feelings for Meredith and sometimes finds solace with Mark, but she avoids getting into a committed relationship with him.
Shonda Rhimes later developed Addison’s story into the series Private Practice, which aired from 2007 to 2013. The show followed her as she started a new life in Los Angeles, moving away from the world of Grey’s Anatomy in Seattle.
Following Dempsey’s recent disclosure that he’s been supporting his former colleague through a battle with ALS, Walsh also commented on Dane’s health challenges.
I really worry about him, but I make an effort to keep in touch and check on how he’s doing,” Dempsey shared with Parade. It’s tough seeing him struggle, but staying connected is important to me.
Dempsey also tried to help Dane land a role in his new crime drama, Memory of a Killer, which debuted on USA Network last weekend.
Despite his worsening condition, Dempsey was glad Dane could travel to Toronto to film a scene for the hospital drama ‘Brilliant Minds,’ which stars Zachary Quinto. He explained that the disease had progressed to the point where it was nearly impossible for Dane to do so.
You know, having met Dane, I’m just so struck by his incredible spirit. Facing such a difficult illness, he’s shown real courage, and honestly, it’s inspiring. Beyond that, he’s genuinely a lovely person – quick-witted, intelligent, and just a joy to be around. It really puts things into perspective.
Dane, known recently for his role as the father of Jacob Elordi’s character in Euphoria, stated last month that he plans to continue acting.
Speaking at an online event for IAMALS.org, he emphasized that his mind and ability to communicate remained strong, and he refused to let the illness define his life or take away his sense of purpose.
Read More
- Heartopia Book Writing Guide: How to write and publish books
- Battlestar Galactica Brought Dark Sci-Fi Back to TV
- Gold Rate Forecast
- January 29 Update Patch Notes
- Genshin Impact Version 6.3 Stygian Onslaught Guide: Boss Mechanism, Best Teams, and Tips
- Beyond Connections: How Higher Dimensions Unlock Network Exploration
- Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Can Finally Show The 32nd Century’s USS Enterprise
- ‘Heartbroken’ Olivia Attwood lies low on holiday with her family as she ‘splits from husband Bradley Dack after he crossed a line’
- Robots That React: Teaching Machines to Hear and Act
- Learning by Association: Smarter AI Through Human-Like Conditioning
2026-01-31 05:19