Within the months earlier than Eric Dane’s loss of life at 53, his spouse Rebecca Gayheart selected presence.
Gayheart, 54, withdrew her divorce submitting after Dane went public along with his ALS analysis in April 2025—a choice she later defined was rooted in household.
Talking on the Broad Concepts podcast with hosts Rachel Bilson and Olivia Allen final November, she mentioned she wished to show their daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, to indicate up for household even “when occasions are at their worst.”
“We inform them, ‘We present up for individuals it doesn’t matter what. He’s our household. He’s your father,’” Gayheart shared. “We are going to get by means of it the most effective we will.”
The couple married in 2004, and Gayheart filed for divorce in 2018 after 13 years of marriage. Although that they had been separated for eight years as she recalled within the episode, she referred to as off the submitting final March—only one month earlier than Dane publicly revealed his ALS analysis. Throughout that very same podcast interview, she described their dynamic as “tremendous sophisticated” and admitted she wasn’t certain if she was dealing with the scenario “the mistaken approach or proper approach” by withdrawing the petition. “I’m simply displaying up and making an attempt to be there for [my kids]. I assume time will inform,” she mentioned.
READ MORE: Eric Dane Reason for Dying: What We Know So Far
Then, in an essay for The Lower revealed in December, Gayheart clarified that she and Dane “haven’t lived in the identical residence for eight years,” explaining that their bond had shifted into one thing totally different. Their “love might not be romantic, nevertheless it’s a familial love,” she wrote.
In the meantime, the Gray’s Anatomy star continued dwelling his life publicly amid his well being battle. Final June, he walked the pink carpet hand-in-hand with filmmaker Janell Shirtcliff on the premiere of his Amazon Prime sequence Countdown. Although neither confirmed their relationship, the looks advised the 2 might need been romantically concerned.
Dane died on Thursday, February 19. “With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane handed on Thursday afternoon following a brave battle with ALS,” his household mentioned in an announcement to PEOPLE. “He spent his last days surrounded by pricey buddies, his devoted spouse, and his two stunning daughters, Billie and Georgia, who have been the middle of his world.”
