Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart had a good relationship despite their separation.
The former couple wed in 2004 and were together for 14 years before announcing their separation in 2017. While Gayheart initially filed for divorce in February 2018, Us Weekly confirmed in March 2025 that she had withdrawn her divorce petition.
“We were about to and then we didn’t,” Gayheart wrote in a December 2025 essay for New York Magazine’s The Cut. “We haven’t lived in the same home for eight years; he’s dated other people, I’ve dated someone.”
Gayheart explained that things between her and Dane are “very complicated” and “confusing for people” to understand.
“Eric knows that I am always going to want the best for him,” she continued. “That I’m going to do my best to do right by him. And I know he would do the same for me.”
Gayheart shared support for Dane throughout his ALS battle. The Grey’s Anatomy alum went public with his diagnosis in April 2025. He died at age 53 in February 2026.
“I am so blown away by the outpouring of love and support from our community,” Gayheart captioned an Instagram post for fans following Dane’s death. “There aren’t words to express our gratitude. You are truly holding us up during this difficult time.”
Keep scrolling for more details about Dane and Gayheart’s relationship:
When Did Eric Dane Die?
News broke on February 19, 2026, that Dane had died following his battle with ALS.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” a statement shared with Us Weekly read. “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.”
The statement continued, “Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart’s Quotes About Relationship After Splitting
Were Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart Together When He Died?
The statement announcing Dane’s death referred to Gayheart as the actor’s wife. However, they were not in a romantic relationship when he died. She confirmed their dynamic during a December 2025 article written for The Cut.
At the time, Gayheart wrote that she and Dane “spent a lot of time” together following his diagnosis.
“He made it very clear that he wants to spend time with his family as much as possible, and I am committed to facilitating that,” she explained. “That was an easy conversation to have.”
Dane shared a similar sentiment in his final interview, Famous Last Words, released via Netflix in February 2026.
“Well, [the girls’] mother and I are no longer together,” he said, referring to daughters Georgia and Billie. “We’re still best friends, but we’re not together. We still love each other deeply. I just think we don’t want to live with each other, but there’s a lot of love there.”
Dane had been in an on-and-off relationship with Janell Shirtcliff for three years prior to his death.
Why Did Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart Split?
The pair have never shared the real reason for their separation.
“I care about him deeply. We had a really lovely marriage for a long time — we were married for 15 years — we created two beautiful girls,” Gayheart wrote in her article for The Cut. “But also, lots of s*** went crazy in our relationship, and it wasn’t good.”
Dane also alluded to what went wrong between him and Gayheart in his Netflix interview.
“I think Rebecca was more willing to show up and do her part than I was,” he said. “I don’t have that gene [that] just makes you want to keep going regardless of what’s happening. I’m like, ‘If there’s a hole in the boat, don’t try to patch the hole. Scuttle the damn thing and go find a new one.’ … Rebecca’s a fighter and she perseveres.”
