Eric Dane’s world has changed forever. But amid the heartbreak of an ALS diagnosis, he’s found something he never expected. A renewed connection with the woman who once walked away. In his first sit-down interview since revealing his condition, the Grey’s Anatomy star spoke with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America.
He didn’t hold back. And when asked about his support system, Dane didn’t hesitate. It was Rebecca Gayheart. His ex-wife, who stood out. According to him, they speak every day. She has become his closest ally, his “biggest champion,” and the one he now leans on the most.
Exes Reconnect as Eric Dane Faces ALS Diagnosis With Unexpected Ally by His Side
This revelation came just months after a quiet but telling move. In March, Gayheart dismissed their long-standing divorce filing. Weeks later, Dane went public with his ALS diagnosis. The timeline was no coincidence. Behind the scenes, something had shifted. Their bond had deepened. Despite being separated since 2018, they weren’t done. Not emotionally, not as parents, and not as partners in this new fight.
Dane reflected on the physical toll of the illness too. One memory in particular haunts him. A day in the water with his daughter when he couldn’t swim back to the boat. A former competitive swimmer, he said it was his daughter who had to save him. That moment shattered him. It made the diagnosis real in the cruelest way. And yet, it’s Rebecca’s strength that he clings to now.
FULL INTERVIEW: Former "Grey's Anatomy" star Eric Dane speaks out for the first time in a television interview about his battle with ALS, a degenerative neurological disorder. "I don't think this is the end of my story." @ABC News' @DianeSawyer reports. https://t.co/NM3oCKiozO pic.twitter.com/gzcuRAkplM
— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 16, 2025
The second part of the GMA interview is set to air tomorrow. It will feature Dane’s doctor as they aim to raise awareness and support for ALS research. But today, it was the story of a broken marriage finding its way back. Not through romance, but resilience. That truly struck a chord.
