The Women Who Stood by Eric Dane's Side Prior to His Passing amid His ALS Battle

Eric Dane's health battle was heartbreaking, and the quiet drama unfolding beside him caught many off guard. As his condition worsened, attention began shifting to the women who remained closest to him.

In the final chapter of his life, Eric Dane relied on a close inner circle as he navigated his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis, keeping much of that support out of public view.

But when he returned to the spotlight, those personal relationships became impossible to ignore — with two women standing by him, and only one appearing at his side when the cameras flashed.

A Romance That Seemed Serious

Dane met model and actress Priya Jain through a mutual friend, and the pair dated for roughly a year, according to Us Weekly.

A separate report from Page Six said the two became "exclusive" in November 2024, just before he was diagnosed with ALS. He publicly announced the diagnosis in April 2025.

According to insiders, Jain, 27, was "devastated" by the news but immediately committed herself to being there for him. She reportedly spent most nights at his home and kept a substantial amount of her clothes there.

The relationship extended beyond just the two of them. Jain spent time with his daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, whom he shares with Rebecca Gayheart.

Their bond appeared serious and symbolic. The pair allegedly got matching star tattoos on their wrists, and Dane even gave Jain a tattoo himself using an at-home tattoo gun.

The last time they reportedly saw each other was the weekend before his headline-making premiere. The last time they were photographed together was mid-May.

Jain believed she was standing beside her partner during one of the most difficult periods of his life.

Days later, he appeared publicly with someone else.

The Red Carpet That Sparked Shockwaves

On June 18, 2025, Dane attended the Los Angeles premiere of his Prime Video series "Countdown," marking his first red carpet appearance since revealing his ALS diagnosis.

He arrived holding hands with filmmaker and photographer Janell Shirtcliff. The two smiled and posed closely for photographers.

Dane wore cream corduroy pants with a white knit cardigan over a white tee, sunglasses, and white sneakers. Shirtcliff paired a maroon blazer minidress with sunglasses, a suede green purse, and coordinating kitten heels.

He told reporters he planned to watch the show with Shirtcliff but did not address their relationship status.

According to Us Weekly, the public appearance came as a surprise to Jain. "Priya is devastated," an insider told the outlet, claiming she had spoken to Dane just days before the premiere.

The insider said she was "shocked" to see him appear publicly with someone else and had not expected it. The same source added that Jain is now "totally done" with the relationship but still wishes him well.

"There's no chance of getting back together. Heartbreaks you move on from, but the public humiliation lingers on," the insider said. "She wants to move forward in her career and with her life in general. She just wants this all behind her."

The insider also described the relationship as serious, saying the two saw each other almost every day and that Dane once introduced Jain as his girlfriend.

Still, the source suggested the breakup may have ultimately spared her additional pain, adding, "He has saved her years, and as heartbreaking as it is, maybe it was a blessing with the relationship coming to an end."

But Shirtcliff's connection to Dane, according to other reports, was not new.

The Longstanding Bond Behind the Scenes

According to Entertainment Tonight (ET), Dane and Shirtcliff had been in an "on-and-off relationship for over three years."

In an Instagram post from ET, a source said, "Eric asked Janell to be there for him during this time, and she wanted to show up for him." The source added that Shirtcliff and Dane were "extremely close and mean a great deal to one another."

The pair were spotted on a date night at Chateau Marmont days before the premiere. The previous day, they reportedly shared "a beautiful day together full of laughs, lightness, and love."

Sources described Dane as being in "great spirits" and handling his health battle with strength, calling him a "true warrior."

Following his passing, Shirtcliff posted personal photos of the two together, offering a public glimpse into their time together.

The Tribute That Spoke Without Words

Following Dane's death, Shirtcliff honored him by sharing intimate photos on Instagram Story. The images showed relaxed selfies, affectionate moments, and a striking black-and-white photo of Dane smiling while getting a tattoo.

In one sunlit photo, he rests his head against her shoulder. In another, they pose closely outdoors, appearing at ease.

The unseen snapshots offered a glimpse of quiet intimacy behind the headlines. Without lengthy captions, the message was clear: she had been there.

Yet long before the red carpets, headlines, and speculation, one relationship in Dane's life had already defied simple definition: his marriage.

As previously reported, Dane and Gayheart's relationship never fit neatly into one label, a point Gayheart acknowledged herself. However, it lasted over two decades — through marriage, separation, a divorce filing that never went through, and hard times that brought them back together.

The pair met in 2003 and married several years later, eventually welcoming two daughters: Billie, now 15, and Georgia, now 14. What unraveled between them, and what held, is a story that played out in fits and starts, in courthouses and red carpets and hospital waiting rooms.

When Things Fell Apart

The marriage was not without turbulence. By Gayheart's account, a lot went wrong over the years. The two separated in September 2017 after 14 years together. In February 2018, Gayheart filed for divorce from Dane, citing irreconcilable differences.

In a statement at the time, Dane said the decision was made in the best interest of their family and that the two would continue co-parenting their daughters, Billie, then 7, and Georgia, then 6.

Gayheart requested joint legal and physical custody of both girls. Notably, the date of separation was listed as "TBD" in the filing.

The Divorce That Never Finalized

Despite the filing, the divorce never went through. In March 2025, nearly seven years after Gayheart first filed, she moved to dismiss the case. Dane signed off, and the Los Angeles court closed it. They remained, technically, married.

A month later, Gayheart addressed their status directly. "We are best of friends. We are really close. We are great coparents," she told E! News in April 2025.

She added, "We were married for, I mean, we are still married, but together for 15 years, and we had two beautiful kids, so I think that's a successful relationship, and that's how we look at it."

The very next day, Dane publicly announced his ALS diagnosis.

A Relationship Without a Simple Label

In December 2025, Gayheart gave the fullest picture yet of what their relationship actually looked like. By then, they had lived apart for eight years. Both had dated other people. And yet the bond between them had never fully dissolved.

She described it plainly:

"We separated, but we never got a divorce; we were about to and then we didn't. We haven't lived in the same home for eight years; he's dated other people, I've dated someone. It's a very complicated relationship, one that's confusing for people. Our love may not be romantic, but it's a familial love."

His Biggest Supporter

When Dane called Gayheart from a doctor's office in San Francisco to tell her he had ALS, she was at home with their youngest daughter. She described the moment as devastating — the two wept together over the phone.

In her essay, Rebecca also recalled Eric exhibiting early symptoms of the disease, such as struggling to use his chopsticks while eating and dropping food.

In the months that followed, she became his most consistent source of support. Dane said as much himself in a June 2025 interview, calling her his biggest champion and the person he leaned on most. "We have managed to become better friends and better parents," he said.

Gayheart, for her part, was equally clear about where she stood. "Eric knows that I am always going to want the best for him," she said.

Whatever the state of their romantic lives, Gayheart made her position clear. She intended to show up for Dane through his illness and to show their daughters what that looked like.

Dane died on February 19, 2026, at 53. His family's statement noted that he spent his final days surrounded by his devoted wife and their two daughters.

Inside the Statement from His Loved Ones

In a statement to People, Eric Dane's family said he died Thursday afternoon after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which they described as courageous.

They added that throughout his illness, he became "a passionate advocate for awareness and research," determined to help others confronting the same disease.

The family also noted that he deeply appreciated the support from fans and asked for privacy as they continue to grieve.

The statement added, "He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world."