Eric Dane ALS Diagnosis 2025: Rebecca Gayheart on Their Heartbreaking Family Journey

They’ve been separated for nearly eight years, but a devastating diagnosis has forged an unbreakable bond. Actress Rebecca Gayheart is opening up about her estranged husband Eric Dane's battle with ALS. In a raw new interview, she shares the emotional toll of navigating a terminal illness while raising their two teenage daughters.

Navigating the Eric Dane ALS Diagnosis 2025: A Family’s Journey

Gayheart recalled the moment they learned the news, a year after symptoms first appeared. "When he told me that day, he just started weeping, as did I," she told The Cut. Despite being separated since 2017, the pair lives just 12 minutes away from each other and has maintained a "familial love" that transcends their romantic past. The Grey's Anatomy star went public with the Eric Dane ALS diagnosis 2025 in April, and his physical decline has been visible ever since.

The disease's progression has been aggressive. By June, Dane reported losing function in his right arm, with his left hand losing strength at a worrying rate. Gayheart described the experience as walking on a never-ending rope bridge, facing new obstacles every morning. To cope, their daughters Billie (15) and Georgia (13) are working with specialized therapists to process the "anticipatory grief" that comes with the diagnosis.

Advocacy Amidst Adversity

Beyond their private struggles, Dane has become a vocal advocate. In September, he joined medical experts and the I Am ALS organization to lobby for federal funding and innovative treatments. Gayheart, now 54, emphasizes that her focus remains on the present. She refuses to let the disease rob her family of joy, stating she wants to model resilience for her children.