Home / Arts and Entertainment / Eric Dane's Girlfriend Shares Heartbreaking Tributes
Eric Dane's Girlfriend Shares Heartbreaking Tributes
21 Feb
Summary
- Eric Dane died at 53 from ALS, a rare degenerative illness.
- His girlfriend Janell Shirtcliff shared touching final memories.
- A GoFundMe for his daughters has raised over $183,000.
Actor Eric Dane, known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan on "Grey's Anatomy," has died at the age of 53. He succumbed to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease in the United States. Dane had publicly disclosed his diagnosis less than a year prior to his passing.
His girlfriend, model Janell Shirtcliff, 42, recently shared a collection of heartfelt photos and videos commemorating their relationship over the past year. These tributes included candid moments of Dane smiling, getting a tattoo, and enjoying a car ride while singing along to music.
Dane's ex-wife, Rebecca Gayheart, with whom he co-parented their two daughters, Billie (15) and Georgia (13), remained a supportive presence during his illness, despite their separation in 2017. The couple had called off their divorce proceedings shortly before Dane's ALS diagnosis.
Despite a significant physical decline, which included using a wheelchair and losing the use of an arm, Dane expressed a strong desire to continue acting, stating in December that he still had his "brain and speech" and would not concede to his illness.
A GoFundMe campaign was initiated by friends to support Dane's daughters financially. As of Saturday morning, February 22, 2026, the fund had garnered over $183,000 of its $250,000 target, demonstrating substantial community support.
