Rebecca Gayheart Marks Daughter Billie’s B-Day After Eric Dane’s Death

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Rebecca Gayheart is marking a special milestone.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always admired how people navigate grief while still celebrating life’s milestones. Recently, I was touched by Shannen Doherty’s sweet message to her daughter, Billie, who just turned sixteen. She shared it a couple of weeks after the incredibly sad passing of Billie’s father, Eric Dane, and it was a beautiful example of keeping family and love at the forefront, even during difficult times.

Rebecca celebrated Billie’s 16th birthday by posting an old photo of her happily enjoying an ice cream cone. Sharing the picture on Instagram, Rebecca wrote a heartfelt message to her daughter: “Happy Sweet 16 to the sweetest girl – mommy loves you to the moon and back, always and forever.”

In later posts, the Scream 2 actress shared photos of Billie with her father, as well as sweet moments with her and Eric’s youngest daughter, Georgia, who is 14. She also showcased Billie’s fashion sense with some stylish photos.

Billie’s birthday received a shout-out from her close friend Ariana Greenblatt. Greenblatt, who stars in Barbie, shared a sweet throwback photo on her Instagram Story with the message, “@billiedane happy birthday bubba love uu,” which Rebecca then reposted.

Billie’s birthday is twelve days after Eric died from ALS. Before his death, while still married to Rebecca, Eric recorded a message for his daughters during his last interview.

Eric shared some advice with his daughters in a recent Netflix episode of Famous Last Words. He told them to focus on living in the present, even though it can be challenging. He also encouraged them to find something they truly love – whether it’s a person or a passion – something that gives them purpose and makes them excited to start each day.

He went on to say that it’s important to choose friends carefully – to find people who understand and support you, and to be open to letting them find you. The truly good friends will offer their support freely, without criticism or expectations.

Eric urged everyone to face life’s challenges, especially health issues, with courage and grace. He emphasized the importance of never giving up, and fighting until the very end. Even as the disease weakened his body, he declared it wouldn’t break his spirit. He then told the two people he was addressing that they were both strong, capable individuals, having inherited his own resilience – what he jokingly called his ‘superpower’.

Rebecca later shared news about her family, expressing her thanks for everyone’s support.

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

She added, “You are truly holding us up during this difficult time.”

For a look back at Rebecca and Eric’s life with their daughters, keep reading…

 

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 spouse 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. In a statement to TopMob News, they said they remain friends and will 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 successfully co-parented 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 he made about the incident, and he stands by it. ‘I’ve been thinking about what I said,’ he told Glamour. ‘Looking back, it wasn’t a mistake at all. It involved three adults who all agreed, and one of them was my wife. I didn’t do anything wrong.’

He clarified that his earlier statements probably concerned the drug use hinted at in the video.

When asked if it was a mistake, the former Grey’s Anatomy star said they didn’t believe they did anything illegal or influenced anyone improperly. They described the situation simply as three people taking a bath.

He finished by saying he stood by everything he’d done and felt completely content with the life he’d lived. He had no regrets and wouldn’t change a thing.

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

Rumors of a rekindled romance began circulating when the couple and their two daughters traveled to Europe together. The actress, known for her role in Jawbreaker, posted photos from the trip, including one of Dane playfully making a face 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.”

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

The actors from Euphoria and Beverly Hills, 90210 were seen holding hands as they stepped off a boat with their two daughters during a family vacation.

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

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2026-03-04 17:21