Eric Dane's Girlfriend Shares Heartbreaking Tributes

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.