James Van Der Beek’s Wife Reflects on Friendship With Eric Dane

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Kimberly Van Der Beek’s family bond with Eric Dane lives on.

Following the death of the Grey’s Anatomy actor on February 19th at age 53, a film producer – whose husband, James Van Der Beek, died just eight days prior after a fight with cancer – sent a heartfelt message to Eric’s wife, Rebecca Gayheart, sharing fond memories of times they all spent together.

Kimberly, 43, shared an old photo on her Instagram Stories on February 21st, showing herself and James with Eric, Rebecca, and their daughters Billie, now 15, and Georgia, 14, at a red carpet event. She captioned the photo, expressing that she’ll miss the times they all shared laughter at Christmas gatherings.

Even while dealing with her own sadness after the loss of her husband, who starred in Dawson’s Creek, Kimberly reached out to Rebecca to offer encouragement as she navigated her future.

“RIP @realericdane,” she shared. “We love you @rebeccagayheartdane.”

The actress from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood seemed touched by the thoughtful message, sharing it on her Instagram Story with a heart emoji and writing, “So much love for you.”

Rebecca, 54, separated from Eric in 2018 after being married for over 13 years, but they never finalized the divorce before he passed away. Despite their separation, they remained on good terms while Eric fought ALS.

She told TopMob News in April, soon after he announced his illness, that they were best friends and fantastic coparents, emphasizing how close they were.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 actress understood that Eric’s illness—and her role in helping him through it—would greatly affect their children.

She shared on the Broad Ideas with Rachel Bilson and Olivia Allen podcast in November that their priority is to always support those they care about, no matter the circumstances. She emphasized that he’s family – her child’s father – and they are committed to navigating challenges with respect and resilience, doing their best to get through everything together.

For more on Eric’s journey with ALS, keep reading.

Eric Dane revealed he received a diagnosis of ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, in April 2025.

Dane shared with People magazine that he’s been diagnosed with ALS. He expressed gratitude for the support of his family as they face this new challenge together.

Despite his diagnosis, the Euphoria star confirmed he wasn’t retiring from acting. He announced in April 2025 that he was still filming the last season of the HBO show.

Dane, whose new Amazon MGM Studios series Countdown premiered this summer, shared that acting has helped him stay mentally focused while dealing with health challenges.

He told TopMob News in June 2025 that he generally feels good while at work. Although he’s faced some challenges, he maintains a positive attitude, which he believes is the most important thing.

Two months after revealing he had been diagnosed, the former Grey’s Anatomy star openly discussed his experience, including the signs that first led him to seek medical attention.

In June 2025, Dane told Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America that he first noticed weakness in his right hand. He didn’t think much of it initially, assuming it was just from texting too much or hand fatigue. However, a few weeks later, he realized the weakness was getting worse.

After nine months of doctor’s visits – seeing two hand specialists and two neurologists – Dane received a diagnosis of ALS.

The father of two said he’ll never forget seeing those three letters. They’re the first thing he thinks about when he wakes up – it’s not something he can escape, even in his dreams.

He described how the rare disease has impacted his physical health, and also explained what he anticipates will happen as the condition gets worse.

During his interview with Sawyer, Dane explained that the left side of his body is still working, but the right side has completely lost function. He added that he fears he may lose the use of his left hand within a couple of months, which he described as a humbling realization.

After more than 20 years of marriage, Rebecca Gayheart has been supporting her husband, Dane, as he deals with health issues. The couple had previously filed for divorce in 2018, but Rebecca asked the court to dismiss the case in March.

Dane told Sawyer that he speaks with Rebecca daily. They’ve grown closer as friends and parents, and she’s become his greatest advocate and a constant source of support. He relies on her a lot.

According to Gayheart, she and Dane are the “best of friends.”

The Beverly Hills, 90210 star told TopMob News on April 9, 2025, that she and her ex are very close and excellent co-parents. They’ve found a way to successfully maintain a family dynamic, which she believes is greatly benefiting both their children and themselves.

Oh my gosh, it just breaks my heart to hear Dane talk about how much he worries about Billie and Georgia, his precious daughters with Gayheart. He’s achieved so much with them, watching them grow, but he’s also confessed he’s really struggling with the fact that his ALS is impacting their lives. It’s just… devastating to think about him feeling like he’s causing them pain, even though it’s obviously not his fault. He’s such a strong person, but this must be incredibly hard for him.

The actor shared during an interview with GMA that he’s grappling with painful feelings related to losing his father at a young age. He’s now facing the possibility of being separated from his own daughters while they are still young, and ultimately, he simply wants to be with his family and continue working when he can.

Dane was scheduled to present at the 2025 Emmys with his Grey’s Anatomy colleague, Jesse Williams, on September 14th, but he couldn’t make it. He later revealed that he had to miss the show due to a hospital stay.

In an interview with The Washington Post on October 2nd, he revealed he was hospitalized receiving stitches during the Emmys, explaining, “ALS is a terrible disease.”

“I was a really upset about it,” Dane added. “But you know, there was nothing I could do about it.”

In September 2025, Dane met with doctors and representatives from the I Am ALS organization to discuss funding for ALS research with California Congressman Eric Swalwell. ALS is a neurological disease that currently has no cure.

In a TikTok video posted on September 29th, Dane told Representative Swalwell, “I want to experience all of life’s milestones. I have two daughters, and I hope to see them graduate college, get married, and perhaps even have children of their own.”

Dane passed away on February 19th at the age of 53 after a year-long struggle with ALS. His family shared with TopMob that he was surrounded by loved ones – his wife, daughters, and close friends – during his final days.

Eric’s family shared that throughout his battle with ALS, he dedicated himself to raising awareness and funding research, hoping to help others facing the disease. He will be greatly missed and remembered with love. Eric cherished his fans and was thankful for all the support he received. The family asks for privacy as they grieve.

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2026-02-22 03:47