Rebecca Gayheart on Co-Parenting Amid Eric Dane's ALS

In the complex tapestry of life, few situations are as challenging as navigating family dynamics amid a health crisis. Actress Rebecca Gayheart is publicly opening up about her own incredibly difficult journey, sharing how she and ex-husband Eric Dane are putting their past aside to co-parent their two teenage daughters through his battle with ALS.

The story of Rebecca Gayheart and Eric Dane is one of modern resilience. Married since 2004, the couple filed for divorce in 2018. However, in a twist of fate, Gayheart officially dismissed the divorce filing in March 2025—just weeks before Dane, known for his roles in *Grey's Anatomy* and *Euphoria*, went public with his ALS diagnosis.

A United Front for Their Daughters

Despite being separated for eight years, with their 15-year-old daughter Billie and 13-year-old daughter Georgia living with Gayheart full-time, the former couple has found a new purpose in unity. Gayheart recently appeared on the podcast *Broad Ideas with Rachel Bilson & Olivia Allen* to discuss her approach, centering her entire philosophy on her children.

"I am definitely trying to show [my daughters] that we show up for people no matter what. And he is our family, he is your father," Gayheart shared. "We show up and we try to do it with some dignity and some grace and just get through it, and that we will get through it the best we we can."

The journey, she admits, is far from simple. "I mean, it’s super complicated for me," she candidly stated, acknowledging the emotional weight of supporting the man who was once her husband while also being a single parent navigating her own life.

The "Super Complicated" Reality

Gayheart’s honesty resonates with anyone who has faced a difficult family situation. She emphasized that while their relationship has evolved, their commitment to their daughters remains unwavering. "Eric will always be my family, whether we're married or not, or living in the same house or not," she explained. "We are closer, but we don't like the reason why."

The heartbreaking reality of ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells controlling voluntary muscles, has forced them into this new reality. There is currently no known cure, which adds a layer of fear and uncertainty to their daily lives. In September, Gayheart told *People* that her daughters were "really suffering" and that she couldn't yet find a "positive nugget" in the ordeal.

A Partnership of Support

While Gayheart focuses on parenting their children, Dane has been equally vocal about the crucial role his ex plays in his fight. In a June interview with Diane Sawyer, he called Gayheart "my biggest champion, my most stalwart supporter, and I lean on her." He revealed that they speak every day, highlighting the deep bond they have managed to forge.

"We have managed to become better friends and better parents," Dane said of their new dynamic. "I call Rebecca. I talk to her every day."

Gayheart shared that this experience, though painful, has been a profound lesson in growth and humility. "It's all very humbling," she reflected. "I think one piece of this that I hope I'm passing to my kids is the idea that you can show up for someone and be there for them, but you also have to show up for yourself, and that this is life."

Her message to her daughters, and perhaps to all of us, is a poignant reminder of life's fleeting nature: "Life, sadly, is just moments, good and bad, strung together. There’s gonna be good ones, there’s gonna be bad ones, there’s gonna be exciting ones, it’s gonna be really sad." Through it all, Rebecca Gayheart and Eric Dane are modeling an incredible act of love, putting their family first in the face of an unimaginable challenge.