“Grey’s Anatomy” alum Eric Dane has been open about his battle with ALS and how he’s gotten support from his wife, Rebecca Gayheart. Now, she’s getting vulnerable about where they stand today amid his illness.
GettyGayheart penned an emotional essay for The Cut in December 2025. In it, she details their relationship, saying they’re “not a couple, we’re family.”
In speaking about their marriage, she said, “We separated, but we never got a divorce; we were about to and then we didn’t. We haven’t lived in the same home for eight years; he’s dated other people, I’ve dated someone. It’s a very complicated relationship, one that’s confusing for people.
Gayheart also spoke about the support she’s shown Dane since his diagnosis. According to her, “Our love may not be romantic, but it’s a familial love. Eric knows that I am always going to want the best for him. That I’m going to do my best to do right by him. And I know he would do the same for me.
So whatever I can do or however I can show up to make this journey better for him or easier for him, I want to do that. And I want to model that for my girls: That’s what you do. That’s the right thing to do.”
The actress went on to call spending more time with Dane “really positive” and said that it allows their daughters to “see maybe a softer side of us.” Notably, they share daughters Billie, who is 15, and Georgia, 14.
Eric Dane Announced His ALS Diagnosis in 2025
Dane is an extremely beloved actor thanks to roles in works such as “Euphoria,” “X-Men: The Last Stand,” and, of course, “Grey’s Anatomy” as Dr. Mark Sloan. However, the actor became vulnerable in April 2025 when he revealed he’d been diagnosed with ALS.
Dane told PEOPLE, “I have been diagnosed with ALS.” He continued, “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter. I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week. I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”
Following this, Dane has made several appearances. One of the most notable came when he guest-starred on “Brilliant Minds” playing Matthew Ramati, a character also battling ALS. The episode, titled “The Firefighter,” aired in November 2025.
Rebecca Gayheart Requested to Dismiss Their Divorce
Dane and Gayheart tied the knot in October 2004. She then filed for divorce from him in February 2018. Dane said to PEOPLE at the time, “After 14 years together, we have decided that ending our marriage is the best decision for our family.
We will continue our friendship and work as a team to co-parent our two beautiful girls, as they are the most important thing in the world to us. We kindly ask that you respect our privacy during this time as we navigate the next phase of our lives.”
However, according to PEOPLE, she requested to toss out the filing in March of this year, one month before he revealed his diagnosis to the public.
