Rebecca Gayheart Details Family’s Shock After Eric Dane’s Death

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Eric Dane’s loved ones are still grappling with his death. 

Just one month after actor Jackson Odell passed away after a fight with ALS, his former partner Rebecca Gayheart shared that their family is still deeply shocked and grieving.

In a recent interview with Variety, published on March 11th, the Jawbreaker actress expressed gratitude for the support she and her family have received over the past two years. She described it as a difficult but rewarding time, and appreciated everyone’s kindness. She shares two children, 16-year-old Billie and 14-year-old Georgia, with her husband, Eric.

Since announcing Eric’s death, Rebecca has shared how much support she’s received from his community. She said they’ve been a tremendous help to her and her daughters over the past two weeks.

She added that she doesn’t believe the people involved will be leaving anytime soon, and that they’re committed for the long term. She also expressed frustration with the negative reputation Hollywood often gets, saying she’s proud of the supportive and kind community within the industry and feels very thankful for it.

The appreciation went both ways. Since Eric’s death, many of his colleagues have shared how important he was to them.

Patrick Dempsey, who worked with Eric on Grey’s Anatomy for seven seasons, recently shared that they connected easily because they never saw each other as rivals. In a February 20th interview with Virgin Radio UK, Dempsey described a strong mutual respect and praised Eric’s intelligence. He fondly remembers the fun they had together and how much joy Eric brought to others.

As the Enchanted actor emphasized, “The real loss is for us who don’t have him here anymore.”

Sam Levinson, the creator of Euphoria and a frequent collaborator with Eric on the HBO series, shared that he was deeply saddened by Eric’s passing.

Sam shared a heartfelt tribute, saying it was a privilege to work with Eric and a true gift to have him as a friend. He extended his condolences to Eric’s family, wishing them comfort and hoping Eric’s memory will be cherished forever.

For more stars who have shared kind words about Eric, keep reading…

The actress from Euphoria posted a clip from Eric’s Netflix special, Famous Last Words, and wrote, “Forever will love you.”

As many of you know, the news about Eric Dane has been incredibly difficult for all of us at Shondaland and the Grey’s Anatomy family. He was such a talented actor, and his portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan really resonated with audiences worldwide – it truly left its mark on the show. I’m so thankful for the years of artistry, warmth, and friendship he brought to our set. My heart, and the hearts of everyone here, are with his family and loved ones during this incredibly sad time.

The Grey’s Anatomy alum remembered his former costar during an appearance on Virgin Radio UK. 

Patrick described him as the funniest person he knew. He was a delight to work with, and Patrick wanted to remember him that way. Whenever he was on set, he brought a lot of energy and laughter. He was naturally funny, easygoing, and they clicked immediately. Patrick recalled his first scene with him vividly: the man emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel, looking fantastic, which hilariously made Patrick feel self-conscious.

As someone who follows pop culture and behind-the-scenes stories, I was so touched to hear how the team behind Grey’s Anatomy brought back Eric for a recent episode. The showrunner shared that it was a real effort during the pandemic to make it happen, and it was all done as a beautiful tribute to his incredible work and lasting legacy. Seeing them with Debbie Allen really highlighted the family atmosphere on set, and how much they value honoring those who’ve contributed to the show’s success.

In an Instagram post, she remembered calling Eric, who picked up right away. She asked if he’d be willing to return to filming, acknowledging the challenges of shooting during a pandemic. She explained they would film outdoors, keeping a safe distance, because she believed the world needed some happiness, and that his and Lexie’s characters brought that. He simply asked for the details. When she arrived on set, he joked about abandoning safety protocols for a hug. She shared that she’ll always remember Eric’s hugs – they were the best. She ended with a heartfelt wish for his peace.

The actress from The White Lotus shared the news of Eric’s passing on her Instagram Story, expressing her sadness with a sad face and a broken heart emoji.

Eric’s co-star from Euphoria, who played his wife on the show, posted a touching selfie of them together on her Instagram Story, writing, “RIP Mr. Dane.”

Kim, who had a romantic connection with Eric on Grey’s Anatomy, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram. She described Eric as a radiant person, both on the Grey’s Anatomy set and in his personal life with Rebecca and their daughters. She remembered his playful spirit and perfect comedic timing during filming, recalling how he’d deliver lines with a mischievous twinkle in his eye that would leave everyone amazed. She concluded by saying he would be deeply missed.

Although the actress and Eric didn’t work on Grey’s Anatomy at the same time, she fondly remembered seeing his character’s name displayed throughout the hospital set each week.

She shared on Instagram on February 20th that Eric had a huge and undeniable impact on the show and everyone who watched it. She called him an unforgettable talent and said her thoughts are with his family.

The actor from I, Tonya, who appeared with Eric in the 2023 movie Americana, shared memories of his friendship with the Grey’s Anatomy actor.

Paul shared on Instagram that the band struggled with booking shows, coping with difficulties, and maintaining sobriety. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity they had to perform together in the band Americana.

It was such a bittersweet moment. He told me he loved me, and wished we’d had more time together – a sentiment I truly cherish. He found peace in his faith, speaking about being held by God, and promised we’d meet again. It was a beautiful goodbye, full of love and hope, and I’ll carry those words with me always. As a lifestyle expert, I always encourage people to express their feelings and cherish every moment – this just reinforces that message.

The journalist shared she was “heartbroken” by the “devastating news” of Eric’s death.

She praised his bravery in facing his diagnosis, sharing on X that he powerfully used his platform to raise awareness about life with ALS.

Regarding his upcoming memoir, which her publishing company will release, she said he wanted to express his love for his family and create a legacy they could cherish.

The actress from Cruel Intentions, who starred alongside Dane in the 1990s series Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane, shared her sympathy by posting about the late actor on Instagram and writing, “I love you. And yours.”

Actor Topher Grace fondly remembered playing Fantasy Football with Eric Dane, sharing on X (formerly Twitter) how much the league will miss him. He sent a message of support, saying they know Eric will be cheering them on while battling ALS, and wished him strength in his fight against the disease.

The creator of Euphoria said he considered his friendship with Eric Dane, who played Cal Jacobs on the show, to be a special blessing, especially after Dane’s recent death.

In a statement to Variety, he expressed his deep sadness, saying, “I’m heartbroken by the loss of our dear friend Eric. It was an honor to work with him, and I truly treasured our friendship. Our thoughts are with Eric’s family, and we hope his memory brings comfort.”

The Grey’s Anatomy actor announced the passing of a former colleague on his Instagram Story on February 19th, simply writing “Rest in Peace.”

Sarah, who also worked with Eric on Grey’s Anatomy, shared the news on her Instagram Story, adding several crying emojis and writing “Rest in peace.”

His Redeeming Love co-star shared on Instagram that she was deeply saddened to hear of Eric’s passing. She remembered him as a warm, generous, and dedicated person who was truly passionate about his work. She added that he was a kind leader and always made everyone on set feel valued.

She expressed her sadness about the loss, describing ALS as a devastating illness. She hopes his memory will encourage further research, greater awareness, and ultimately, a cure. He will be greatly missed.

The actress from Charmed celebrated her friendship with Eric, who played her romantic partner on the show.

She remembered a playful glint in Eric’s eyes just before he’d say something unexpectedly funny or thought-provoking. He had a quick, witty sense of humor and loved finding the humor in everyday absurdities, often surprising people with his remarks.

And she credited him with her daring 2003 look.

Alyssa went on to say that he encouraged her to get a pixie cut and a nose piercing. He was also with her when she found Lucy, her cherished chihuahua rescue. He affectionately called her ‘Milano,’ sometimes acting as if it was her entire name.

She concluded, “My heart is with the people who were lucky enough to be his home.”

I was so saddened to hear about Kevin McKidd. I always loved seeing him and Dane DeHaan together on Grey’s Anatomy – he played Owen Hunt and they had such great chemistry with Dane as Dr. Mark Sloan. I saw he posted a sweet photo of Dane on his Instagram Stories with the message, “Rest in peace buddy,” and it just broke my heart.

Former Real Housewives of Atlanta star recalled the nickname for actor Eric Dane on Grey’s Anatomy, jokingly posting on Instagram, “Oh my goodness, not McSteamy!”

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2026-03-11 19:24