Rebecca Gayheart has provided a candid and emotional insight into her unique relationship with her estranged husband, actor Eric Dane, as he battles the progressive motor neurone disease ALS.
A 'Complicated' Relationship Defined by Family
In a deeply personal first-person essay for The Cut, the 54-year-old model and actress shed new light on the dynamic between herself and the Grey's Anatomy star. Gayheart explained that while her love for Dane, 53, is no longer romantic, it remains powerfully 'familial' in nature.
The couple, who wed in 2004 and share two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, initially filed for divorce in 2018 after 14 years of marriage. However, in a significant turn of events, they quietly called off the divorce proceedings in March 2025, just one month before Dane publicly revealed his devastating ALS diagnosis in April.
'We had a really lovely marriage for a long time,' Gayheart reflected. 'But also, lots of s**t went crazy in our relationship, and it wasn't good.' She described their current situation as 'very complicated' and confusing for outsiders, noting they haven't lived together for eight years and have both dated other people.
Mobilising Around-the-Clock Care
Gayheart's essay revealed the practical realities of supporting Dane through his health crisis. She disclosed that the actor now requires and receives 24/7 care from a team of nurses, organised into 21 shifts per week.
Gayheart has taken an active, hands-on role in this care structure. She steps in to cover nursing shifts herself when needed and mobilises their circle of friends to help when she is unavailable. '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,' she stated.
She emphasised that her actions are also a lesson for their teenage daughters. 'I want to model that for my girls: That's what you do. That's the right thing to do.'
Navigating New Relationships and an Old Bond
While providing support for Dane, Gayheart has also been navigating her own personal life. In recent months, she has been seen with her on-and-off boyfriend, 78-year-old restaurateur Peter Morton, and the pair were photographed sharing a passionate kiss in Beverly Hills earlier in May.
This juxtaposition highlights the complex tapestry of her life, where a deep, enduring commitment to her family's father coexists with moving forward personally. Dane's diagnosis of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, came after he first noticed weakness in his right hand in early 2024. The rare and incurable neurological condition has progressed rapidly; by June 2024, he had lost the use of his right arm.
The couple's journey from separation and near-divorce to a reunited front against illness underscores a powerful, redefined partnership built on shared history and the wellbeing of their children.
