Rebecca Gayheart Breaks Silence on Eric Dane’s Death

Rebecca Gayheart is navigating her grief one day at a time.

Following the death of her husband, Eric Dane, who died on February 19th at age 53 after a battle with ALS, the former Beverly Hills, 90210 star expressed her gratitude.

She shared on Instagram on February 22nd that she and Eric were incredibly touched by the overwhelming love and support they’ve received from their community, saying she couldn’t find the words to express how thankful they are. She posted this message alongside several framed photos of herself and Eric.

Rebecca, mother to Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, and partner to the star of Grey’s Anatomy, shared, “We’re so grateful for your support during this challenging time.”

Even though Rebecca, 54, filed for divorce from Eric in 2018, they were still legally married when he passed away. She recently shared that their relationship had many ups and downs, but was a significant part of both their lives.

In an essay for New York magazine’s The Cut, she wrote that she deeply cared for him. She described their 15-year marriage as initially wonderful, resulting in two daughters, but also acknowledged that their relationship eventually became very difficult.

She explained that they had been separated for eight years, but they never officially divorced. They had considered divorce at one point, but ultimately decided against it. During this time, they both pursued relationships with other people.

Although Eric and Rebecca broke up as a couple—Eric dated photographer Janell Shirtcliff before he died, and Rebecca was linked to Peter Morton—they remained close friends.

Rebecca described their connection as complex and often misunderstood. While not a traditional romance, she emphasized it’s a deep, family-like bond. She explained that she always prioritizes Eric’s well-being and strives to support him, and she knows he feels the same way about her.

Rebecca intentionally supported Eric during his fight with ALS, wanting to show their children how to care for others in difficult times.

She explained on the Broad Ideas with Rachel Bilson and Olivia Allen podcast last November that they always support each other, no matter the circumstances. She emphasized that he’s family – her children’s father – and they’re committed to navigating challenges with respect and composure, doing their best to cope and move forward together.

Keep reading for a closer look at Eric and Rebecca’s one-of-a-kind relationship…

Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart have always kept the details of how they met private, with Dane jokingly suggesting it’s not a very exciting story.

He told Flaunt magazine in 2008 that it all started with a simple question: “Want to go out?” She said yes, and ten months later, they were married.

Less than one year after they began dating, the couple exchanged vows in Las Vegas.

Following Dane’s announcement that he was departing the TV series The Last Ship as he dealt with depression, Gayheart used Instagram to publicly express her support for him.

“Way back when I met my Monday man crush,” Gayheart captioned a throwback photo of the couple.

When filing for divorce, Gayheart stated that she and her husband had irreconcilable differences. She also requested financial support and shared custody of their daughters, Billie and Georgia.

The couple announced after 14 years of marriage that they’ve decided to separate, believing it’s the best path forward for their family. They shared in a statement that they will remain friends and continue to co-parent their two daughters, who are their top priority.

Despite never officially divorcing, Dane shared in 2019 with Entertainment Tonight that he and his ex-partner remained friends and were successfully co-parenting their two children. He explained, “It’s not complicated…it doesn’t have to be.”

Ten years after a nude video featuring former Miss Teen USA, Kari Ann Peniche, became public, Dane spoke about the controversy for the first time in a recent interview.

He recently revisited a previous statement about the incident, telling Glamour he doesn’t regret his response. He clarified that because three adults were involved, including his wife, he wasn’t in the wrong and it wasn’t a mistake to say so.

I understood his clarification to mean he was probably talking about the drug use hinted at in the video. It seemed like that’s what he was getting at with his earlier statements, and he was just confirming it.

Okay, so everyone’s making a huge deal out of this, but honestly? I don’t think we did anything wrong. I mean, it wasn’t like we were hurting anyone! It was just…us three, relaxing in a bath. I can’t believe they’re even questioning it, it’s totally being blown out of proportion, and frankly, I’m sticking by it – it was innocent!

He finished by saying he stood by everything he’d done and didn’t apologize for any part of his life. He was content with the life he’d lived and felt at peace with it all.

When the tape became public in 2009, Dane and Gayheart sued Gawker Media for $1 million, claiming copyright infringement. The case was eventually settled for a substantial amount, reportedly over $100,000.

Rumors began swirling that the couple was getting back together after they traveled to Europe with their two daughters. The actress, known for her role in Jawbreaker, posted photos from the trip, including one of Dane playfully making a face at the camera with their girls.

“This is us,” Gayheart captioned the Instagram post. “Family vacay 2022.”

The group shared another photo from their European trip, this one taken on the streets of Paris. She captioned the picture on Instagram, “A quick stop in Paris!”

The group traveled along the coast to St. Tropez, and Gayheart shared updates from their trip on her Instagram Stories. She posted a photo of the group with a friend, writing “My people” as the caption.

While she filed for divorce in 2018, Dane and Gayheart kicked off the New Year as one big family.

The stars of Euphoria and Beverly Hills, 90210 were seen holding hands as they stepped off a boat with their two daughters while on vacation.

Gayheart filed to dismiss her divorce petition, seven years after submitting the papers.

2026-02-22 21:47

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