Eric Dane's Complex Relationship Dynamics and Personal Challenges
Eric Dane and filmmaker Janell Shirtcliff appeared to be completely loved-up this Wednesday at the premiere of “Countdown,” a new Prime Video series featuring Dane and Jensen Ackles. The couple exchanged affectionate looks and held hands, leaving no doubt about their relationship.
Noticeably absent from the premiere was Rebecca Gayheart, Dane’s wife since October 2004, who he recently mentioned in a national broadcast as someone he frequently relies on for unwavering support. Despite their close ties, Gayheart had earlier asked for her 2018 divorce petition against Dane to be withdrawn without prejudice.
In April, Dane made a public disclosure about his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Recently, he shared that the disease has caused him to lose function in his right arm, with symptoms now impacting his left arm as well.
Amidst all this, Dane’s romantic status seems unclear.
According to Entertainment Tonight, the 52-year-old “Grey’s Anatomy” star and Shirtcliff have been engaged in an “on-and-off relationship” for over three years. “They care deeply for one another,” a source informed the outlet, adding, “Eric asked Janell for her support during this challenging time, and she is committed to being there for him.”
Shirtcliff, who is a photographer and filmmaker, is currently involved in pre-production for “Generation Angst” and is wrapping up post-production for the horror movie “Triton,” as per her IMDb profile.
However, actor Priya Jain, 27, who is reportedly Dane’s girlfriend, was surprised to see him with Shirtcliff at the event, Page Six reported on Thursday. According to the source, Jain and Dane started dating last summer, becoming “exclusive” by November 2024. “They never parted ways,” the source claimed. The couple have been seen together in public, share matching tattoos, and reportedly Jain has been staying at Dane’s house frequently, with the two spotted together as recently as last weekend.
This complicated situation slightly echoes a past incident involving a leaked 2009 nude bathtub video with Dane, Gayheart, and actor Kari Ann Peniche, which Dane addressed in a 2019 interview with Glamour. In the video, the trio appeared nude in a bath—engaging in conversation on potential stage names, but not engaging in sexual acts—approximately 15 years into Dane’s marriage with Gayheart.
“I didn’t think we were breaking any laws or corrupting anyone. We were simply three people having a bath together,” Dane told the magazine. Reflecting on his past, which includes the bathtub video and prescription painkiller addiction, he said, “I have no regrets nor do I make any apologies for my life’s journey. It is my experience, and I am at peace with all of it.”
Concerning Gayheart, she and Dane remain separated as a married couple, though the divorce has been put on hold and they communicate frequently as they co-parent their two daughters.
“I reach out to Rebecca. We talk every day,” Dane shared emotionally on “Good Morning America” this Monday, while discussing his battle with ALS. “We’ve grown into better friends and better co-parents. She is my biggest advocate, my most reliable supporter, and I depend on her.”