Eric Dane's wifeRebecca Gayhearthas been frank about her relationship with the "Grey's Anatomy" actor and his ALS battle.
The couple, who dated for 10 months before marrying in 2004, have broken up and reconciled as coparents in recent years.
Gayheart, 54,filed for divorce from Danein 2018 after 14 years of marriage, butfiled to dismiss the divorcein March 2025, according toE!andPeople. The model, who shares daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, with the "Euphoria" actor, dismissed the filing a month before Dane publicly revealed his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis.
Actor Eric Dane has died following a battle with ALS. He was 53. He leaves behind two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, and wife Rebecca Gayheart. Look back at the family through the years when they joined together in the public eye. Actress Rebecca Gayheart and actor Eric Dane attend the Chrysalis 3rd annual Butterfly Ball at a private residence on April 17, 2004, in Beverly Hills, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Rebecca Gayheart and husband Eric Dane attend the afterparty for the opening night of "Steel Magnolias" on Broadway on April 4, 2005, in New York City. The pair married in 2004." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart arrive at the premiere of A&E original film "Wedding Wars" at the ArcLight Theater Dec. 4, 2006, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart watch the show at the 6th annual General Motors TEN event at Paramount Studios on Feb. 20, 2007, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Rebecca Gayheart and Eric Dane arrive at the premiere of New Line Cinema's "Valentine's Day" held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Feb. 8, 2010, in Hollywood, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Rebecca Gayheart, Eric Dane, Billie Beatrice Dane, Georgia Dane and guests attend the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Built To Amaze! show on March 21, 2013, in New York City." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Georgia Dane, Rebecca Gayheart, Eric Dane and Billie Beatrice Dane attend Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival at Madison Square Garden on March 23, 2013, in New York City." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Rebecca Gayheart, Eric Dane and their daughters attend the Huggies Snug & Dry and Baby2Baby Mother's Day Garden Party held on April 27, 2013, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
From left: Eric Dane, Rebecca Gayheart, Georgia Dane and Billie Beatrice Dane attend the 14th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball on June 6, 2015, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Rebecca Gayheart, Eric Dane and their family attend Amazon Video's Tumble Leaf Family Fun Day hosted by Au Fudge on Sept. 13, 2015, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
From left: Billie Beatrice Dane, Rebecca Gayheart, Georgia Dane and Eric Dane attend the 15th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball at a private residence on June 11, 2016, in Brentwood, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
From left: Rebecca Gayheart, Eric Dane, Billie Beatrice Dane and Georgia Dane attend the 16th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball on June 3, 2017, in Brentwood, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
From left: Eric White, Patricia Arquette, Rosetta Getty, June Getty, Balthazar Getty, Violet Getty, Eric Dane, Billie Beatrice Dane, Rebecca Gayheart and Georgia Dane at the 16th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball on June 3, 2017, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Eric Dane and his daughters Billie Beatrice Dane and Georgia Dane attend the Los Angeles premiere of "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on May 30, 2024." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane's family journey in photos
Actor Eric Dane has died following a battle with ALS. He was 53. He leaves behind two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, and wife Rebecca Gayheart. Look back at the family through the years when they joined together in the public eye.Actress Rebecca Gayheart and actorEric Daneattend the Chrysalis 3rd annual Butterfly Ball at a private residence on April 17, 2004, in Beverly Hills, California.
Eric Dane, 'Grey's Anatomy' star,dies at 53 following ALS battle
Gayheart toldE!in April –a day before Dane's announcement– that the pair were still the "best of friends" and that she still looks at her marriage as a "huge success" despite the couple no longer being together.
"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," she continued. "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."
Two months after revealing his diagnosis, Dane, 53, toldDiane Sawyerthat Gayheart is the first person he calls when he needs support. "I talk to her every day," he said. "And she is probably my biggest champion, my most stalwart supporter, and I lean on her."
Eric Dane praisedas 'heroic' in tributes from 'Euphoria,' 'Charmed' costars
On a November episode of the "Broad Ideas" podcast, she further explained her decision to call off the divorce, with the actress saying she wanted to set an example for their daughters.
"I am definitely trying to show them that we show up for people no matter what. And he is our family. He is your father," she said, though admitting the situation is "complicated."
Advertisement
She added: "We show up and we try to do it with some dignity and some grace and just get through it. And that we will get through it the best we can."
Eric Dane was perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan, aka "McSteamy," in the ABC medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," but he also has other memorable roles under his belt. Revisit the late actor's best roles, starting with a scene from "Grey's Anatomy" with Ellen Pompeo in 2006. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Hamish Linklater, Eric Dane and Russell Hornsby, stars of ABC medical drama "Gideon's Crossing," during a press tour party in July 17, 2000, in Pasadena." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Members of the cast of "Burlesque": Eric Dane, Stanley Tucci, Christina Aguilera, Cher, Cam Gigandet and Julianne Hough in a portrait made at the Four Seasons Hote in 2010. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Adam Baldwin and Eric Dane in 2014's "The Last Ship."" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> How Eric Dane became a TV and film favorite. His best roles
Eric Dane was perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan, aka "McSteamy," in the ABC medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," but he also has other memorable roles under his belt.Revisit the late actor's best roles, starting with a scene from "Grey's Anatomy" with Ellen Pompeo in 2006.
In December, Gayheart penned an essay forThe Cut, writing that the family "spending all this time together" was "nice" and "really positive" for their kids, though, "It's not that they have the hopes of us being together – kids always dream of their parents getting back together, and I think now ours don't because they understand the reality of the situation."
Rebecca Gayheart defends'complicated' relationship with Eric Dane
She admitted that their relationship may be "confusing for people."
"It's a very complicated relationship," she told the outlet. "Our love may not be romantic, but it's a familial love."
Dane died Thursday, Feb. 19, at age 53, his representative, Melissa Bank, confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY.
"With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS," the statement said. "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.
"He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always," the statement concluded. "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."
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Eric Dane death – Rebecca Gayheart on husband, his ALS battle
