Inside Eric Dane’s Private Struggles Before His Death

ALS, money strain, and regret pushed Eric Dane to confront the end as he leaned on Rebecca Gayheart and his daughters.

Eric Dane spent years playing the confident heartthrob on television, but away from the cameras, his life was far more complicated. 

The actor’s final chapter was marked by illness, reconciliation, financial strain, and emotional honesty. 

As ALS slowly took control of his body, Dane leaned on the people closest to him, including Rebecca Gayheart, despite their long separation. 

Behind the fame was a man grappling with fear, regret, and the reality of leaving his daughters too soon.

Eric Dane Faced A Devastating Diagnosis In Private

Long before the public learned of Eric Dane’s illness, subtle physical changes had already begun. 

What first seemed minor gradually became impossible to ignore. Still, those closest to him reportedly struggled to accept the seriousness of what was happening.

“When he started getting symptoms, they both made excuses to each other about them. The last thing either of them thought was that he was suffering from anything fatal,” an insider revealed to the Daily Mail. 

When doctors confirmed ALS in late 2023, the news was paralyzing. “When they finally got the terrifying news, they were in shock for days,” the source added. 

Dane chose not to go public immediately. Instead, he processed the diagnosis quietly with his family. 

By the time he shared his condition in April 2025, his inner circle had already begun preparing for a future they never imagined.

Dane And Gayheart Put Divorce On Hold

Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart had been separated for years, with divorce proceedings lingering since 2018. However, once ALS entered the picture, everything shifted.

The month before the “Grey’s Anatomy” star disclosed his illness publicly, Gayheart withdrew her divorce filing. 

According to one source, “Rebecca has been by Eric’s side through his entire health battle.” The insider added, “She is a kind woman and has been nothing but loving to him during his darkest hours.”

Despite living separate lives, their bond endured. “There was a lot of love there,” the source explained.

Gayheart reportedly attended many of her husband’s medical appointments and helped shoulder the emotional weight for their daughters. 

Watching his rapid decline was overwhelming. “Watching him deteriorate so rapidly took its toll on Rebecca big time,” another insider shared.

Even her relationship with businessman Peter Morton was affected. Though they had discussed a future together, Dane’s health crisis put those plans on hold. 

Still, Morton remained supportive. “Peter is generous. If Rebecca has ever needed anything, he has been there,” a source said.

Eric Dane’s Financial Reality As ALS Progressed

While Dane had starred in seven seasons of "Grey’s Anatomy" and appeared in HBO’s "Euphoria," ALS dramatically changed his earning power. The disease eventually left him wheelchair-bound and in need of full-time care.

Considering that treatment for ALS is notoriously expensive, especially when families seek top specialists, his finances took a big hit. 

“He spent a fortune on getting the best doctors, which insurance doesn’t always cover, and he had to hire full-time care,” one insider revealed. 

The source admitted, “I don’t know if I would say Eric was broke when he died, but I don’t think there was a lot of money in his bank account.”

In his final months, Dane reportedly lived in a Los Angeles property owned by Johnny Depp, staying rent-free to ease financial pressure. 

For a man once at the height of network television fame, it was a humbling turn.

Meanwhile, Gayheart prioritized stability for their daughters, who had been living with her full-time for years.

Dane’s Long Battle With Addiction And Depression

ALS was not the first major struggle Eric Dane faced. Years earlier, his career had been rocked by addiction issues. 

After initially achieving sobriety before joining “Grey’s Anatomy,” he later relapsed during the 2007 writers’ strike.

“I am not good with a lot of time on my hands,” he once admitted. In 2011, he entered rehab for prescription painkiller addiction. 

Around the same time, he experienced severe depression. “That was a scary thing, when you wake up and you’re like: ‘I don’t want to get out of bed,’” he recalled during a 2017 appearance on “Today.”

Those dark periods unfolded while he was building a family. His eldest daughter was still a toddler, and Gayheart was pregnant with their second child. 

The weight of fame, fatherhood, and internal battles collided years before ALS would test him in an entirely different way.

Eric Dane Confronted Mortality With Anger And Acceptance

As ALS advanced, Dane spoke openly about his fears. In a June 2025 interview on “Good Morning America,” he confessed, “I’m angry because, you know, my father was taken from me when I was young… And now, there’s a very good chance I’m going to be taken from my girls while they’re very young.”

The thought of history repeating itself haunted him. Yet, according to a third insider, there came a point when he stopped fighting the inevitable. 

They said, “He wasn’t getting better and he was eventually able to meet his fate head on.” 

In the end, Dane reportedly had the chance to say goodbye. “Eric knew it was his time to go, and he wanted to go,” the insider shared, noting he made sure to express his love to those closest to him.

Although Dane’s friends, family, and loved ones are devastated by the loss, a source revealed that they are relieved “he is no longer in pain.”