Janell Shirtcliff Honors Eric Dane With Emotional Public Tribute After His Passing

The world is still reeling from the loss of "Grey's Anatomy" star Eric Dane, but the drama surrounding his private life is only just beginning.

Days after the actor's passing, Janell Shirtcliff shared a public tribute, and the response was anything but gentle.

The photographer and filmmaker posted photos of Dane on her Instagram Stories in his honor. The images have since disappeared, but screenshots began circulating across social media within hours.

Behind the Scenes

While many saw Dane as the rugged "McSteamy," the photographer and filmmaker knew a much more vulnerable side of the star during his grueling battle with ALS.

The pair shared a deep connection that spanned over three years, navigating an on-and-off romance that stood the test of time.

According to insiders, Dane specifically asked Shirtcliff to be by his side as his health declined. She reportedly wanted nothing more than to "show up for him" during his darkest hours.

The tribute seemed like a natural gesture for a grieving partner, but the internet was quick to point out a glaring omission.

The Ultimate Snub?

In a recently aired Netflix segment, the actor spoke candidly about the loves of his life, and social media detectives noticed Shirtcliff's name was nowhere to be found.

"If you watched the final words on Netflix, he says he never loved anyone as deeply as Rebecca… respectfully ma'am, stay in your lane…." one commenter wrote.

Others were even more blunt, with one telling Shirtcliff, "Girl… No! This isn't your fight. His final words were for his wife. He didn't mention you. Find your friends and choose grace. Choose self-respect."

But others were more dismissive. "This is so so disrespectful why would u put this out [sic]," one person wrote, with another adding, "Girl. Please. Have some respect." One kept it short: "Inappropriate." Another added, "She should of [sic] kept this to herself…"

A commenter on a separate post pushed back on the criticism: "My heart hurts for her, especially if she watched his last words segment. He didn't mention her and spoke about how Rebecca was his true love. His girlfriend is a saint for being there through all of it."

And then there were those who simply defended her right to feel what she felt. "Oh c'mon, they were together for 3 years. She's allowed to be sad too…."

The backlash centers on the idea that Shirtcliff is overstepping her bounds, especially since Dane's final words were reserved almost exclusively for his wife, Rebecca Gayheart.

A House Divided

While Shirtcliff mourns publicly, Gayheart has been the picture of quiet strength. The actress was recently spotted leaving the Los Angeles home where Dane spent his final days, looking somber in a beige trench coat.

She was photographed the day after his death, looking solemn, a black leather handbag in hand, her hair in an updo. No statement. Just presence.

Shirtcliff's tribute, by contrast, was public, emotional, and immediate, and that difference in expression could be what drew the online fire.

Whether she was right or wrong to share it publicly is a question that cuts deeper than any comment section can resolve. Grief does not wait for permission, and relationships rarely fit the clean narratives that outside observers prefer. Dane had asked her to be there, and she was.

A Complicated Legacy

Dane's final year was not simple. Even though he publicly dated other women, he was technically still married to Gayheart.

Their relationship never fit a simple label, and Gayheart said so 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.

In the years that followed, both dated other people. By November 2024, Dane had been linked to Priya Jain, and on several occasions, the two were spotted on casual strolls in Los Angeles.

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.

He also walked his first red carpet since his diagnosis that same month, this time with Shirtcliff at the Los Angeles premiere of "Countdown" on June 18, 2025.

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, 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."

Long before the family's statement, Dane had shared his diagnosis with the world.

When He First Spoke About ALS

On April 10, 2025, Dane publicly shared his diagnosis for the first time. "I have been diagnosed with ALS," he told People exclusively. "I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter."

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease causes loss of muscle control as motor neurons gradually deteriorate and die. There is no cure, and symptoms typically worsen over time.

The condition often begins with muscle weakness in the hands, arms, feet, or legs and may also cause slurred speech or difficulty swallowing. As it advances, ALS affects the muscles needed to move, speak, eat, and breathe.

Despite the progression of the disease, Dane indicated at the time that he intended to keep working. He was preparing to resume filming Season 3 of "Euphoria" on April 14, just days after publicly sharing his diagnosis.

"I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week," he said. "I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time."

But months after first sharing his diagnosis, Dane offered a more personal look at how the disease had progressed.

The Moment He Knew Something Was Wrong

In June 2025, Dane spoke with ABC News' Diane Sawyer about when he first realized something was wrong. He said the earliest symptom was weakness in his right hand.

"I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand. And I didn't really think anything of it at the time," Dane said. He initially assumed it was fatigue or that he had been using his phone too much.

As the weakness progressed, he consulted several hand specialists before a neurologist told him the case was "way above my pay grade."

Dane said the disease has since advanced. "My right side is completely, completely stopped working," he told Sawyer, indicating his right arm resting in his lap.

When asked about his left arm, he replied, "No, it's going. Yeah, I feel like maybe a couple few more months, and I won't have my left hand either. Sobering."

The interview turned emotional when Sawyer asked who he calls when it becomes overwhelming. "I call Rebecca. I talk to her every day," he said, referring to Gayheart.