Eric Dane walked the red carpet for the first time since sharing his ALS diagnosis with a new woman on his arm.
The actor, 52, was all smiles at the Los Angeles premiere of his new Amazon Prime Video thriller series Countdown on Wednesday, June 18. Dane walked the red carpet hand in hand with photographer and filmmaker Janell Shirtcliff and the twosome posed for photos together.
Dane kept it casual for the occasion in a white T-shirt and matching cardigan, tan corduroy pants and Adidas sneakers. Shirtcliff wore a dark red corduroy dress and matching sunglasses.
Following the red carpet premiere, Dane and Shirtcliff attended an afterparty with Dane’s fellow Countdown cast and crew, including lead actor Jensen Ackles.
Are Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart Back Together? Everything We Know
“They were holding hands and at one point, rubbing each other’s backs,” an eyewitness exclusively told Us. “Janelle appeared to know some of Eric’s costars, but Eric was also introducing her to other guests. She appeared excited to support him on his big night and fit right in.”
“Eric was seen hugging guests and being gracious and friendly to fans who approached him. At one point, Eric embraced costar Jensen Ackles with a big hug,” the eyewitness added. “He really seemed happy to be celebrating with the cast and was in good spirits.”
The sighting comes after Entertainment Tonight reported on Wednesday that Dane and Shirtcliff have been dating on and off for three years. (Us Weekly has reached out to Dane’s representatives for comment.)
Dane has been married to actress Rebecca Gayheart, 53, with whom he shares daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, since 2004.
Gayheart filed for divorce in February 2018 after 14 years of marriage. Us confirmed in March that the actress requested a dismissal of her divorce petition following a seven-year separation.
A little over a month later, Gayheart addressed her relationship with Dane.
“We are best of friends. We are really close. We are great coparents,” she told E! News in April. “We really figured out the formula to staying a family and I think our kids are benefiting greatly from it and we are as well.”
Gayheart continued: “I think it’s important to not look at a relationship that ends as a failure. It’s just a season. It wasn’t a failure. It was a huge success. We were married for — I mean, we are still married — but together for 15 years and we had two beautiful kids, so I think that’s a successful relationship, and that’s how we look at it.”
Neither Dane nor Gayheart has publicly commented on their romantic status following the divorce dismissal.
However, on Monday, June 16, Dane shared an update on their relationship dynamic in an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America. “I talk to her every day,” the actor said while tearing up. “We have managed to become better friends and better parents, and she is my — probably my biggest champion. My most stalwart supporter, and I lean on her.”
Wednesday’s event marked Dane’s first red carpet appearance since sharing his ALS diagnosis in April and since his emotional two-part interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America earlier this week.
Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart’s Relationship Timeline
Dane spoke candidly about when he began experiencing symptoms of the degenerative neurological disorder, starting with a sensation of “weakness” in his right hand.
“I didn’t really think anything of it at the time; I thought maybe I’d been texting too much and my hand was fatigued,” he recalled. “A few weeks later, I noticed it’d gotten a little worse. I went and saw a hand specialist, who sent me to another hand specialist. I went and saw a neurologist, and the neurologist sent me to another neurologist and said, ‘This is way above my pay grade.’”
After nine months, Dane was officially diagnosed. “I’ll never forget those three letters,” he said.
Dane further revealed that he’d lost function of his right arm. “I feel like maybe a couple, few more months, and I won’t have my left hand [functioning] either,” he said, noting that he’s concerned his legs might be next.
Countdown premieres on Prime Video on June 25.
