Eric Dane's estranged wife opens up on their 'complicated' relationship amid his ALS diagnosis
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Grey's Anatomy's Eric Dane's estranged wife, Rebecca Gayheart, has lifted the lid on their relationship dynamic.
Dane and Gayheart married in 2004 and went on to have two daughters together; however, in 2018, Gayheart filed for divorce from the actor, citing 'irreconcilable differences'.
In a statement, Dane announced that they'd 'decided that ending our marriage is the best decision for our family', adding: "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."
Earlier this year, the pair called off their divorce proceedings following Dane's amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis in April.
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According to the Mayo Clinic, ALS is a degenerative health condition that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, which causes loss of muscle control.
There is no cure, and the condition gets worse as it progresses.
The X-Men: The Last Stand star told People in April: "I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter."
Gayheart revealed that she'd decided to call off their divorce to show their daughters that 'we show up for people no matter what', as the family attempt to navigate Dane's diagnosis.
In a recent interview with The Cut, she opened up on their relationship dynamic, revealing that it is a 'complicated' one which is 'confusing for people'.
The Scream 2 star told the outlet: "We had a really lovely marriage for a long time - we were married for 15 years - we created two beautiful girls. But also, lots of s*** went crazy in our relationship, and it wasn't good.
"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."
Gayheart went on to say that the two still care for each other, just not romantically.
She continued: " 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."
Dane has been incredibly open about his journey with ALS, revealing the initial symptom which he initially mistook as being down to 'texting too much'.
He also said he believed it was 'imperative' to speak about his diagnosis so people are 'aware of what ALS is and what it's about'.
Gayheart has also previously spoken about how his diagnosis has impacted their family, revealing at the Step Up's 2025 Inspiration Awards that she and their daughters were 'trying to get through it' and adjust to the 'new normal'.