Actor Patrick Dempsey, who starred alongside Dane on the show as Dr. Derek Shepherd, spoke about his friend on Virgin Radio UK’s “The Chris Evans Breakfast Show.”
“He was the funniest man,” Dempsey told Evans. “He was such a joy to work with and I want to just remember him in that spirit because any time he was on set, he brought so much fun to it. He had a great sense of humor. He was easy to work with, we got along instantly.”
Dempsey said he was in contact with Dane up to a week before his death, and that the actor had been bedridden and was losing his ability to speak and swallow.
“He’s wickedly intelligent and I’m always going to remember those moments of fun that we had together and celebrate the joy that he did bring to people’s lives, and the real loss is for us who don’t have them anymore,” Dempsey said.
“Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes shared a video tribute to Dane on Instagram Friday, calling him “a beloved member of the Shondaland and Grey’s Anatomy families.”
“He was truly a gifted actor whose portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan left an indelible mark on the series and on audiences around the world,” the statement read.
Dane also starred in HBO’s “Euphoria” as Cal Jacobs, the father of actor Jacob Elordi’s character, Nate Jacobs.
HBO announced that Dane will be appearing in the show’s third season posthumously, which will premiere in April.