Eric Dane said this week that his estranged wife, Rebecca Gayheart, remains his “biggest champion” amid his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
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But the San Francisco-born “Grey’s Anatomy” alum also has found another important source of support as he increasingly deals with the symptoms of this fatal and progressive neurodegenerative condition: Photographer and director Janell Shirtcliff, his on-again, off-again girlfriend, according to Entertainment Tonight.
“The two have been in an on-and-off relationship for over three years and care deeply for each other,” a source told Entertainment Tonight. “Eric asked Janell to be there for him during this time, and she wanted to show up for him.”
Janell Shirtcliff attends The Hollywood Reporter’s 4th Annual Nominees Night at Spago on February 8, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
The “Euphoria” star first opened up about his diagnosis with ALS in April. Shortly before Dane’s announcement, Gayheart, his wife of more than 20 years, filed to dismiss her 2018 divorce petition which she had yet to finalize. She withdrew the petition because of “everything going on with his health,” a source told ET at the time. She and Dane are the parents of two daughters, 15 and 13.
During an interview with Good Morning America Monday, the 52-year-old actor said he and Gayheart have “become better friends and better parents” in recent months and that she’s his “biggest champion” as he navigates his health challenges.
The same, it seems, goes for Shirtcliff, according to Entertainment Tonight.
“They’re extremely close and mean a great deal to one another,” the outlet reported. On Tuesday, Dane and Shirtcliff were spotted on a date night at the famed Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles. The previous day, the source told ET that the two “had a beautiful day together full of laughs, lightness, and love.”
“Eric has been in such great spirits and is handling everything with such strength,” the source said. “He’s a true warrior.”
During his two-part interview with Good Morning America’s Diane Sawyer this week, Dane revealed that his symptoms began more than a year ago, when he experienced weakness in his right hand. The weakness got worse, and he saw two hand specialists and then a couple of neurologists before he received his ALS diagnosis.
“I’ll never forget those three letters,” he told Sawyer of the diagnosis.
Those with ALS typically have a life expectancy of three to five years after the first symptoms appear, according to the ALS Therapy Development Institute. It causes muscle paralysis, with patients losing their ability to speak, eat, walk and breathe independently. There is currently no effective cure or treatment to stop the disease’s progression.
Dane, who played water polo for San Mateo High, told Sawyer that he’s “fighting” to stay healthy and active as long as he can. The actor also told the ABC News journalist that he’s part of a research project and is taking medication in order to try to slow the effects of ALS.
However, Dane, who became famous playing handsome, strapping Dr. Mark Sloan on “Grey’s Anatomy,” also revealed that he’s already lost the use of his right arm and may soon lose the use of his left. “There’s so much about it that’s out of my control,” acknowledged Dane.
