Rebecca Gayheart Opens Up About How Her Daughters Are Holding Up After Eric Dane’S Death

Rebecca Gayheart shares a candid update seven months after Eric Dane’s death

Rebecca Gayheart, 55, spoke with People at Step Up’s 2026 Annual Inspiration Awards on Friday, Sept. 25, at Los Angeles’ Skirball Cultural Center, offering a close, personal look at how her family is moving forward. The event — which celebrates mentorship and the women and girls who inspire others — provided a quiet moment for Gayheart to reflect on life after loss and the day-to-day realities of raising two teenagers.

Gayheart was asked about daughters Billie Beatrice, 16, and Georgia Geraldine, 14, and she gave a heartfelt, grounded update about how the girls are managing in the aftermath of their father’s passing. Her message was simple and honest – they are coping, but it’s a challenging season for the family.

How Billie and Georgia are coping — high school, grief and everyday life

Both girls are in high school, which adds another layer to the grieving process. Transitioning into those years is significant under any circumstances, and doing it while processing the loss of a parent is understandably more intense. Gayheart said she’s staying close and present as the girls navigate homework, friends and the emotional ups and downs of teenage life.

"Every day we take small steps together—some days that looks like a school run, other days it’s sitting quietly on the couch. What matters is we do it as a family," Gayheart said.

She acknowledged that certain moments can still feel overwhelming, but emphasized that the family is leaning into each other and finding ways to support the girls through school plays, exams and the usual teen rites of passage.

Leaning on family and friends — the support system that helps

Gayheart described the practical and emotional ways she gets through the tougher days — mostly by staying connected to the people closest to her. She said having her children under the same roof gives her a sense of comfort, and that simply being together helps stabilize their days.

She also mentioned turning to friends and specific loved ones when she needs to process emotions or get things off her chest. “Being connected to other human beings - that’s what gets me through,” she shared, underscoring the importance of community in times of grief.

Small comforts and routines

The actress noted that ordinary routines and nearby support make a difference, whether it’s talking with friends, family visits, or the quiet reassurance of having her kids close by. Those little anchors help keep the family grounded as they move through this season.

Gayheart and Dane’s history — marriage, separation and renewed ties

Gayheart and Eric Dane first met in 2003 and married in Las Vegas in 2004. The couple later filed for divorce in 2018, but in a turn many found surprising, Gayheart requested the divorce be dismissed in March 2025, with both parties signing off on the paperwork.

Shortly after, Dane publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis to PEOPLE, saying at the time he was grateful for the support of his family as they navigated the next chapter. The public disclosure marked a difficult period for the family and fans alike, as they watched a private health struggle play out in the public eye.

Caregiving, advocacy and the aftermath of Dane’s death

Even though Gayheart and Dane were not living together, she remained closely involved in his care after his diagnosis. In a December 2025 essay for The Cut, she detailed taking the lead on his care team and working through complex health insurance hurdles to ensure he received the treatment and support he needed.

Dane died on Feb. 19 at age 53, leaving Gayheart and their daughters to continue adjusting to life without him. Gayheart’s recent comments at the Step Up awards underscore a family focused on staying close, leaning on loved ones and taking the coming months one day at a time.