Despite their separation, Rebecca Gayheart stuck by her former husband Eric Dane’s side as he publicly battled Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) for nearly one year.
Following Dane’s death on Feb. 19, Gayheart expressed her gratitude to those who have reached out in support of her family as she navigates the loss of the father of their two teenage daughters, Billie Beatrice and Georgia Geraldine.
Rebecca Gayheart Thanks Loved Ones & Fans for Their Support
GettyOn Saturday, Feb. 21, Gayheart took to her Instagram Story, where she reposted many family photos throughout the years as well as images and videos that their loved ones shared online. Under a photo of a headline detailing the GoFundMe that was launched in support of their daughters, Gayheart wrote, “Thank you to everyone.”
Shortly after, Gayheart emphasized how thankful she was, taking to her Instagram Story to say, “I am so blown away by the outpouring of love and support from our community. There aren’t words to express our gratitude. You are truly holding us up during this difficult time.”
On the official site for the Dane family’s GoFundMe, set up by their friends, a brief description detailed its intention. “Eric’s friends have come together to create this GoFundMe to support his girls and their future needs,” their family friends wrote.
Among the photos Gayheart shared to her Instagram Story following Dane’s death, she shared loving throwbacks to the beginning of their relationship, snaps of family vacations, their family throughout the years and Dane with Gayheart as she was pregnant with their second child, Georgia.
Rebecca Gayheart Shares Why She Didn’t Leave Eric Dane’s Side
Although Gayheart and Dane separated in 2018, she withdrew their divorce papers one month before the “Grey’s Anatomy” star revealed his ALS diagnosis, People reported. The former couple was married for 14 years before ending their marriage.
Despite their decision to leave their romance in the past, when Dane was diagnosed with ALS, and especially in its progressive stages, Gayheart never left his side — often taking him to his doctor appointments and providing him with devoted love.
During a “Broad Ideas” podcast episode in November 2025, Gayheart explained why she decided to stick by Dane’s side amid his ALS, sharing that it was important to both of them for their daughters to be able to see and care for their dad during the entire process.
“We tell them, ‘We show up for people no matter what. He is our family. He is your father,’” Gayheart shared.
Inside Rebecca Gayheart & Eric Dane’s Relationship Amid ALS Battle
In a compelling personal essay from December of that same year, published by The Cut, Gayheart admitted that she and Dane’s “love may not be romantic, but it’s a familial love.”
“This year, the girls and I have spent a lot of time at Eric’s house, which is about a 12-minute drive away from our home,” Gayheart shared in her essay. “We have a lot of meals together. We do a lot of drop-by visits — well, I don’t just drop by. I always call and say, ‘I’m coming up the hill’ or ‘I’m dropping Georgia off.’”
Before Dane died, he filmed a secretive interview for the Netflix series “Famous Last Words,” which aired after he passed away. In which he recorded his last words for daughters Billie and Georgia.
“Billie and Georgia, these words are for you,” Dane said. “I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried. Overall, we had a blast, didn’t we?”
The beloved actor went on to give his daughters his life advice for them to hold onto, adding that their family moments were his fondest in life. “Those days, pun intended, were heaven,” he said.
His best movie was him naked in a bathtub with his wife and an underaged Teen Miss America, Kari Anne Penache.