Eric Dane's Friends Double GoFundMe Goal to $500k for His Daughters
Close friends of the late actor Eric Dane have raised the goal of a GoFundMe fundraiser to $500,000, as supporters fiercely defend the initiative aimed at supporting his two teenage daughters. The Grey's Anatomy star's death was confirmed by loved ones in a statement to People on Thursday, less than a year after he announced his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, affects the nervous system, including the spinal cord and brain, leading to muscle paralysis and currently has no cure. Dane is survived by his widow, Rebecca Gayheart, and their daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13.
Fundraiser Details and Donations
Friends organized the GoFundMe shortly after his passing on Friday, initially setting a goal of $250,000, which has since been doubled to $500,000. At the time of publication, donations have raised approximately $244,000. Notable contributions include a top donation of $27,000 from Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and $10,000 from television writer and producer Brad Falchuk, who is married to Gwyneth Paltrow.
The friends behind the fundraiser penned a heartfelt message on the page, stating, 'It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of Eric Dane after a hard-fought battle with ALS, leaving behind his devoted wife, Rebecca, and his two teenage daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.' They highlighted his devotion to the ALS community and noted that his illness progressed more rapidly than anticipated, prompting the fundraiser for his daughters' future needs.
Defense of the Fundraiser
One close friend, Mike McGuiness, came to the defense of the GoFundMe on Instagram, sharing a tribute to Dane. He explained that COVID-19 and ALS impacted Dane's work life, leaving his family with fewer resources than hoped. McGuiness emotionally described ALS as 'as hopeless an affliction one could get,' but praised Dane for handling it with grace and dignity. He recounted a trip to Tokyo with Dane after the diagnosis, where they attended an Oasis concert, noting that Dane learned to live in the moment due to his condition.
Family Response and Legacy
Rebecca Gayheart expressed gratitude on her Instagram stories, typing, 'Thank you to everyone.' Before his death, Dane secretly recorded a Netflix documentary titled Famous Last Words: Eric Dane, sharing final messages with his daughters. In it, he offered life lessons, including living in the present, falling in love, choosing friends wisely, and fighting challenges with dignity.
Dane married Gayheart in 2004, and they welcomed two daughters. Although she filed for divorce in 2018, she dismissed the petition amid his health battle in 2025, and they remained legally married until his death. Gayheart recently shared throwback images of Dane on Instagram, while tributes poured in from former Grey's Anatomy castmates like Kate Walsh and Patrick Dempsey.
Dane was renowned for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey's Anatomy, starting in 2006, and his passing coincided with the 20th anniversary of his first episode. Other tributes included one from Kimberly Van Der Beek, widow of James Van Der Beek, who died earlier in February. Dane had publicly announced his ALS diagnosis in April of the previous year.
