Rebecca Gayheart supported Eric Dane in his battle with illness
20 february 2026 в 21:13
Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart have experienced many ups and downs in their marriage, but ultimately she stood by him in sickness and in health. The actor, who passed away on February 19, 2026, at the age of 53 and was known for his role in «Grey's Anatomy», - was married to Rebecca from 2004 until their divorce announcement in 2018. Almost seven years later, Rebecca filed to dismiss the divorce to support Eric in his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Hollywood Life details the divorce and reconciliation of Rebecca and Eric leading up to his death.
In her divorce statement in 2018, Rebecca cited «irreconcilable differences» as the reason for their separation. The couple released a joint statement regarding their split.
«After 14 years together, we have decided that ending our marriage is the best decision for our family», - they said at the time. «We will continue our friendship and work as a team to raise our two beautiful daughters, as they are the most important thing in the world to us. We ask that you respect our privacy during this time as we navigate the next chapter of our lives».
Eric and Rebecca raised two daughters: Billie and Georgia.
Yes, Rebecca filed to dismiss the divorce from Eric in 2025 after he announced his ALS diagnosis. In her essay for The Cut in December 2025, the actress explained that their «love may not be romantic, but it is family love».
Rebecca filed to dismiss the divorce from Eric in March 2025, just weeks before he announced his battle with ALS. She discussed her decision in an essay with The Cut later that same year, noting that she would be replacing «24/7 nurses» for Eric during «times when shifts are not covered».
«Eric knows that I will always want the best for him», - she wrote. «That I will do everything I can to do right by him. And I know he would do the same for me… So whatever I can do or however I can help to make this journey better or easier for him, I want to do it. And I want to show this to my daughters: 'This is what you do. This is right.'»
Pointing to the children as the main reason for their reconciliation, Rebecca added, «I think the kids enjoy seeing perhaps a softer side of us. It’s not that they hope we will be together [romantically]… because they understand the reality of the situation. And hopefully, they see instead two adults trying to be mature and focus on what matters».
Ultimately, Rebecca’s goal was to «make use of the time that [Dane] has now», - as «he made it clear that he wants to spend as much time with family as possible» in his final months
Hollywood Life details the divorce and reconciliation of Rebecca and Eric leading up to his death.
In her divorce statement in 2018, Rebecca cited «irreconcilable differences» as the reason for their separation. The couple released a joint statement regarding their split.
«After 14 years together, we have decided that ending our marriage is the best decision for our family», - they said at the time. «We will continue our friendship and work as a team to raise our two beautiful daughters, as they are the most important thing in the world to us. We ask that you respect our privacy during this time as we navigate the next chapter of our lives».
Eric and Rebecca raised two daughters: Billie and Georgia.
Yes, Rebecca filed to dismiss the divorce from Eric in 2025 after he announced his ALS diagnosis. In her essay for The Cut in December 2025, the actress explained that their «love may not be romantic, but it is family love».
Rebecca filed to dismiss the divorce from Eric in March 2025, just weeks before he announced his battle with ALS. She discussed her decision in an essay with The Cut later that same year, noting that she would be replacing «24/7 nurses» for Eric during «times when shifts are not covered».
«Eric knows that I will always want the best for him», - she wrote. «That I will do everything I can to do right by him. And I know he would do the same for me… So whatever I can do or however I can help to make this journey better or easier for him, I want to do it. And I want to show this to my daughters: 'This is what you do. This is right.'»
Pointing to the children as the main reason for their reconciliation, Rebecca added, «I think the kids enjoy seeing perhaps a softer side of us. It’s not that they hope we will be together [romantically]… because they understand the reality of the situation. And hopefully, they see instead two adults trying to be mature and focus on what matters».
Ultimately, Rebecca’s goal was to «make use of the time that [Dane] has now», - as «he made it clear that he wants to spend as much time with family as possible» in his final months
© Artemenko Olga
