Pompeo spoke of her connection to her co-star dor the ALS Network Champions for Cures and Care Gala last month.

Ellen Pompeo recalls first conversation with Eric Dane after learning of Grey’s Anatomy costar’s ALS diagnosis

Pompeo spoke of her connection to her co-star dor the ALS Network Champions for Cures and Care Gala last month.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

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February 4, 2026 5:27 p.m. ET

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Ellen Pompeo in April 2025, and Eric Dane in June 2025. Credit:

Gilbert Flores/Deadline via Getty; VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty

Ellen Pompeo recently opened up about learning of her former *Grey's Anatomy* costar Eric Dane's ALS diagnosis, which he revealed last May.

"As soon as I heard about his diagnosis, I texted him, and I said, 'I'm here if you want to speak,'" Pompeo recalled in a pretaped message shown at the ALS Network Champions for Cures & Care Gala, per PEOPLE. "And my phone rang 30 seconds later."

Pompeo paid tribute to her friend and castmate during the ceremony in which he was being honored with the Advocate of the Year Award and said she told Dane she'd help him with "whatever you need, however I can help. I love you."

"I'm really proud of you," she said of Dane. "I love you so much, and I am honored to get to speak about you today."

Ellen Pompeo and Eric Dane on 'Grey's Anatomy' in 2006.

Scott Garfield/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Neither Pompeo nor the *Euphoria* actor appeared in person at the ALS Network's gala in Pasadena on Jan. 24. Dane was slated to accept his award at the event, but organizers announced that evening that the actor wasn't well enough to attend "due to the physical realities of ALS."

"We remain deeply grateful for his courage, advocacy, and continued commitment to the ALS community," an ALSN representative said in a statement to ** at the time*,* "and we honor him fully this evening with our profound respect and support."

Broadway star and Grammy nominee Aaron Lazar, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2022, accepted the award on Dane's behalf.

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In lieu of his presence, Dane also sent a prerecorded video message for the ceremony, thanking the organization for honoring him with the Advocate of the Year Award.

"This award is not just for me, it's for my beautiful loved ones who are fighting with me, and it's for every person who has faced ALS with courage," the *Countdown* star said. "For every caregiver who gives their heart and energy day after day and for every advocate who raises their voice to push for progress."

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Dane paid tribute to the ALS Network’s tireless work, which includes "uniting care, research, and advocacy to improve and extend the lives of people with ALS." And after thanking the organization again, Dane ended his message saying, "With the help of the ALS Network we will finally be able to kick the s--- out of ALS together."

Eric Dane speaks about his ALS diagnosis on June 23, 2025.

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty

Dane first announced his ALS diagnosis in April of last year, after nine months of testing. In June, the actor revealed that he had lost function in his right arm, and his ex-wife, Rebecca Gayheart (the couple are legally married, but separated in 2017), recently said he has "24/7 nurses" taking care of him.

Since his announcement, Dane has been a passionate advocate for both those diagnosed with ALS and those who step in as caretakers.

"I think it's imperative that I share my journey with as many people as I can because I don't feel like my life is about me anymore," Dane said in a virtual conversation in December. "It's something I've had to wrestle with because I'm a pretty selfish person, and I'd love for my life to be all about me, but I just can't — I don't think I'd be able to move forward if that were the case."**

- Grey's Anatomy Fandom

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