Eric Dane got emotional on “Good Morning America” on Monday, June 16, as he opened up about how his ALS has progressed. He said he no longer has use of his right arm and hand, which is his dominant side. He also said that his left is “starting to go.”
But even though Dane continues to struggle, one thing that is no longer a struggle is his evolving relationship with wife Rebecca Gayheart.
The “Grey’s Anatomy” star, 52, shared how much her presence has meant to him during one of the most challenging times of his life. As he continues to navigate his ALS diagnosis, Dane reflected on how their bond has grown stronger, calling Gayheart his greatest supporter and someone he leans on every day.
“She’s My Biggest Champion,” Dane Says
Although Dane and Gayheart were separated for years, he said their connection has only grown stronger since they reconciled.
“I talk to her every day,” Dane shared, tearing up. “We have managed to become better friends and better parents, and she is my—probably my biggest champion. My most stalwart supporter, and I lean on her.”
Gayheart, 53, filed for divorce in 2018 after 14 years of marriage. But in March 2024, Us Weekly confirmed that she had filed to dismiss the divorce petition, officially ending their seven-year separation. The couple shares two daughters: Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13.
Dane Says ALS Diagnosis Came After Nine Months of Testing
Dane first noticed something was wrong when he felt weakness in his right hand. At first, he brushed it off, but the symptoms worsened.
“I didn’t really think anything of it,” he recalled. “I went and saw a hand specialist a few weeks later.”
That visit led to a referral to a neurologist, then another specialist.
“The neurologist sent me to another neurologist and said, ‘This is way above my pay grade,’” Dane said.
After nearly nine months of testing and uncertainty, he finally received a diagnosis: ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. This progressive condition affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. “I will never forget those three letters,” he said. “It’s on me the second I wake up. It’s not a dream.”
A New Chapter for Dane and Gayheart
Despite the heartbreaking diagnosis, Dane says he’s found strength in his evolving relationship with Gayheart. Once estranged, the couple is now more united than ever as co-parents, friends, and support systems.
It hasn’t been an easy road, but through it all, Eric Dane’s honesty—and the way he leans on Rebecca Gayheart—shows what it means to find strength, love, and a second chance when life gets hard.
