Patrick Dempsey Hoped To Reunite With 'Grey's Anatomy' Co-Star On New Series

"Grey's Anatomy" alum Patrick Dempsey wanted an on-screen reunion with one of his former co-stars on the medical drama series he starred in for 11 seasons.

The actor is now starring in a new crime drama series, "Memory of a Killer," which is based on the 2003 Belgian film "De Zaak Alzheimer."

Dempsey and Eric Dane played best friends, Derek Shepherd aka McDreamy and Mark Sloan aka McSteamy, on the medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," and while both have left the series, their relationship remains strong.

In an interview with Parade, 60-year-old Dempsey talked about his new show and was asked whether or not he still talked to Dane, who revealed his ALS diagnosis last year.

"I spoke to him a few weeks ago. I've been testing with him. We were trying to get him in but unfortunately, the progression of his disease made it virtually impossible," he shared. However, he noted that he was happy to have seen his guest appearance on the show "Brilliant Minds," where he played a character with ALS.

As previously reported by The Blast, Dane had to cancel an appearance at an ALS gala a few days ago due to the "physical realities" of ALS.

According to Dempsey, he tries to stay in touch with Dane amid his ALS battle to check up on him. He also praised his friend for being brave. "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," Dempsey shared.

Dempsey noted that what Dane and his family are going through is "heartbreaking," but he commends the actor for "using his platform in a positive way" by bringing awareness to ALS.

In 2020, years after Dane left "Grey's Anatomy," he shared an amusing photo of himself and Dempsey showing how they hung out during the COVID pandemic.

Dempsey left "Grey's Anatomy" in 2015 after the show's 11th season. His character was killed in a car accident, which devastated fans. In 2021, the book "How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey's Anatomy" by Lynette Rice was released, and in it, executive producer James D. Parriott talked about Dempsey's exit.

Parriott claimed that there were tensions on set and Dempsey was "terrorizing," adding that there were "HR issues."

"I think he was just done with the show. He didn't like the inconvenience of coming in every day and working," Parriott claimed.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly shortly after his departure from the show, the actor said working long hours affected his relationship with his children. "It's 10 months, 15 hours a day... Doing that for 11 years is challenging... What I would like to do is focus on not being spread so thin. Those days are over."

Dempsey's McDreamy persona made him a beloved TV heartthrob. The character was charming, handsome, and a skilled neurosurgeon who captured the hearts of viewers. It's understandable how people immediately associate Dempsey with McDreamy after playing the character for more than a decade.

However, Dempsey wants to shy away from that charming and likable persona. "I have a dark side to my nature. I just hadn't been able to express it," the actor said, per The New York Times.

"Dexter: Original Sin" showrunner Clyde Phillips saw that in Dempsey and cast him as a villain in the series. "There is a non-McDreamy part of Patrick Dempsey. Because he's so appealing, when he turns out to be a bad guy, that is a wonderful surprise to the audience," Phillips said.

That villainous role was what convinced the showrunners of "Memory of a Killer" to offer Dempsey the lead role in the show.

In "Memory of a Killer," Dempsey plays Angelo Doyle, a copier salesman who also works as a professional hitman. He balances being a doting father to his pregnant daughter and working an ordinary job while dealing with his hitman assignment. The story gets more complicated, as he suspects that he has Alzheimer's.

While Dempsey was initially apprehensive about taking on another network series, he agreed to do it after reading the script and learning about the character. "I'm getting away from the softness of McDreamy," he said.

The first two episodes of "Memory of a Killer" aired on January 25 and 26. The remaining eight episodes will air every Monday night on Fox and will be available for streaming on Hulu the following day.