Janelle Shirtcliffe Remembers Eric Dane After His Passing

After Eric Dane’s passing on February 19 at the age of 53 from ALS, his girlfriend Janelle Shirtcliffe has shared her reflections on their relationship.

In a series of Instagram stories posted on February 21, she provided a glimpse into their lives together, featuring a mix of black-and-white photos showing him mid-tattoo and relaxed images of him in a white T-shirt and cowboy hat beside a horse. These moments depicted not only their affectionate bond but also his connection with his children.

Shirtcliffe’s heartfelt tribute came shortly after Dane’s death, revealing a love story that developed quietly in the spotlight as he dealt with his illness and personal challenges.

Among the memories shared was a sweet video showing one of her kids directing an impromptu photoshoot with him, instructing Eric to “look at your mom over there” and “smile.”

Dane and Shirtcliffe appeared to officially acknowledge their relationship in June of the previous year, mere months after he disclosed his ALS diagnosis. They made their red carpet debut together at the Los Angeles premiere of Prime Video’s crime drama Countdown, sharing laughter and holding hands.

Despite their romance, Dane was still legally married to his estranged wife, Rebecca Gayheart, with whom he shares two daughters, Billie and Georgia. Even during his final interview, he expressed fondness for her.

“By the time someone sees this, I’ll never fall in love with another woman as deeply as I did with Rebecca,” he said to Brad Falchuk in an episode aired the day before his death. He described her as the mother of his children, emphasizing the natural and serendipitous nature of that connection.

The couple had married in Las Vegas after a brief courtship but split in 2017. Gayheart cited “irreconcilable differences” for their separation. In their joint statement at the time, they highlighted their dedication to co-parenting.

“After 14 years together, we have decided that ending our marriage is the best decision for our family,” they stated. “We will continue our friendship and co-parent our two beautiful girls as a team because they are the most important thing in the world to us.”