Former Grey’s Anatomy co-stars Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane, known to fans as McDreamy and McSteamy, almost shared the screen again. Dempsey recently shared that he tried to get Dane a guest role on his new Fox television series, Memory of a Killer. However, the progression of Dane’s battle with ALS made the hoped-for reunion “virtually impossible” to happen.
Dempsey spoke about his effort to bring his friend and former colleague onto the new show in an interview with Parade, published on January 28, 2026. He revealed that the two actors have stayed in touch. “I spoke to him a few weeks ago. I’ve been texting with him,” Dempsey said. While the on-screen reunion could not happen, Dempsey expressed support for Dane’s ongoing work and advocacy.
The Planned Grey’s Anatomy Reunion That Could Not Happen
Patrick Dempsey, who stars as the lead in Memory of a Killer, actively wanted to include Eric Dane in the new project. The idea was for Dane to make a guest appearance on the crime drama.
“We were trying to get him in [Memory of a Killer], but unfortunately, the progression of his disease made it virtually impossible,” Dempsey explained in his interview.
Dane publicly announced his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in April 2025. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. In a June 2025 interview, Dane shared that the disease had already significantly impacted his mobility, leaving him with “one functioning arm” at the time.
Despite not being able to join Dempsey’s show, Dane continues to work. Dempsey noted he was “happy to see that he was here in Toronto working on, I think, another medical drama”. This is a reference to Dane’s guest appearance on the NBC series Brilliant Minds, which aired in November 2025. On that show, he played a firefighter struggling with an ALS diagnosis.
Eric Dane’s Current Health and Advocacy Work
Patrick Dempsey offered a supportive update on how his former co-star is managing his health challenges. “It’s very hard for him, but I do try to stay in touch and see how he’s doing,” Dempsey said. He praised Dane’s character and strength in facing the disease.
“I think he’s been incredibly courageous in the face of this horrible disease. 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,” Dempsey shared.
Dempsey also expressed his feelings about the impact on Dane’s family, which includes his ex-wife Rebecca Gayheart and their two daughters. “It’s heartbreaking. It really is. For him and for his family. You feel for them when you see this terrible disease and how quickly it attacks the body,” he said.
The physical realities of ALS have recently forced Dane to cancel other appearances. Just last week, he was unable to attend the ALS Network’s Champions for Cures and Care gala on January 24, 2026, where he was set to be honored with the Advocate of the Year award. Organizers stated his absence was “due to the physical realities of ALS”.
Dane has been vocal about using his platform to raise awareness. In a virtual panel, he explained, “I want to make sure that people are aware of what ALS is and what it’s about, and more importantly, what we can do to combat it and improve the landscape”.
About Patrick Dempsey’s New Show Memory of a Killer
The show that almost featured the Grey’s Anatomy reunion is Memory of a Killer, a new crime drama series on Fox. The series premiered on January 25, 2026. It is based on the 2003 Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer, which was itself based on a novel by Jef Geeraerts.
Patrick Dempsey plays the lead role of Angelo Doyle, a man living a dangerous double life. By day, he is a suburban father and widower who sells photocopiers. By night, he is a hired hitman. The central twist of the story is that Angelo is developing early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, which causes his two worlds to dangerously collide.
The series features a strong supporting cast including Michael Imperioli as Dutch, Angelo’s connection to the criminal underworld; Odeya Rush as his pregnant daughter, Maria; and Gina Torres as an FBI agent suspicious of Angelo.
Memory of a Killer airs on Fox on Monday nights at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. New episodes are released weekly.
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The Legacy of McDreamy and McSteamy on Grey’s Anatomy
Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane shared significant screen time on the hit ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. Dempsey originated the role of neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd, nicknamed “McDreamy,” from the show’s start in 2005.
Eric Dane joined the cast in 2006 during the show’s third season, playing plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Sloan, who earned the nickname “McSteamy”. Their characters were best friends, though their relationship was famously complicated when Mark had an affair with Derek’s then-wife, Addison.
Dane was a series regular until his departure in the premiere of Season 9 in 2012. Dempsey continued on the show until his exit during Season 11 in 2015. Their chemistry and the dynamic between McDreamy and McSteamy remain a beloved part of the show’s long history.
While fans will have to wait longer for another on-screen reunion, the mutual respect and friendship between the two actors is clear. Dempsey ended his comments by saying, “But he’s bringing a lot of light to that, and he’s using his platform in a positive way. I wish him the best”.
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