Rebecca Gayheart breaks silence on Eric Dane’s death after battle with ALS

Rebecca Gayheart broke her silence on her husband Eric Danepassed away after a battle with ALS.

Gayheart, 54, shared multiple throwback family photos with Dane and their two daughters via her Instagram Stories on Saturday, February 21, along with a link GoFundMe campaign They plan to support their children financially after the late actor’s untimely death.

“Thank you everyone,” she wrote alongside a screenshot of the fundraiser.

US Weekly On Thursday, February 19, it was confirmed that Dane had passed away at the age of 53.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share that Dane passed away Thursday afternoon after a courageous battle with ALS,” his family wrote in a statement. “He spent his final days surrounded by his dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world. Throughout his ALS journey, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same battle.”

The message also read: “We will always miss him and remember him fondly. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he received. The family asks for privacy as they work through this difficult time.”

HBO also shared a statement Tributes to the actor who played Carl Jacobs in ‘Karl Jacobs’ Euphoria. “We are deeply saddened by this news Eric Dane dies” said a spokesperson. “He is extremely talented and HBO is fortunate to be able to work with him on three seasons of Euphoria. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time. “

Weeks before Dane died expected to attend He accepted his Advocate of the Year award at the ALS Network’s Champions of Treatment and Care Gala on January 24, but the organization revealed that “he was not well enough to attend due to his ALS condition.”

Gerhart and Dane, who have two daughters, married in 2004. The two separated in 2018, but Gerhart eventually withdrew the divorce petition in 2025. Later that year, she went public with Dane’s diagnosis in an article. new york magazineof tailoring.

“His symptoms started about a year ago. When we would eat with the kids, he would say, ‘There’s something wrong with my hands.'” He struggled to use his chopsticks and food fell out. That’s when he started seeing doctors. ” Gerhart recalled in December 2025.

She continued, “When he told me that day, he started crying, and so did I. It felt unreal because he was okay.” A week later, she and Dane told their daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, about his diagnosis.

Dane finally opened up about his health struggles in April 2025. Gayheart, meanwhile, called ALS a “terrible disease.”

“No matter how well prepared you are, or how much I prepare the girls, or how much Eric prepares himself, he’ll wake up one morning and realize something else is a hindrance or he’s lost the ability to do another thing – it just pops up,” she wrote. “This is a very, very scary disease.”

Gerhart also reflected on her relationship with Dane, writing, “We were separated, but we never divorced; we were going to divorce, but didn’t. We haven’t lived in the same home in eight years; he’s dated other people, and I’ve dated other people. It’s a very complicated relationship and confusing. Our love may not have been romantic, but it was a familial love.”

Meanwhile, Dane reflected on his marriage to Gerhart in his final interview, which aired on Netflix after his death.

“When anyone sees this, I will never fall in love with another woman as deeply as I did with Rebecca. She was the mother of my children,” Dane said in the book. his famous last words interviewalso admitted why they broke up in 2018. “I think Rebecca is more willing than I am to show up and do her part. I don’t have that gene that makes you want to keep going no matter what. I’m like, ‘If there’s a hole in the boat, don’t try to patch the hole. Break the damn thing into pieces and go find a new one.’ … Rebecca is a fighter, she perseveres.”