Eric Dane passed away last month following a brief battle with ALS, and now his widow, actress Rebecca Gayheart, is sharing the details of what the late actor was working on prior to his untimely death.
In a recent interview, Gayheart revealed that Dane was working with AI voice restoration in an effort to resume communicating effectively after his voice was impacted by ALS.
Rebecca Gayheart Shares Eric Dane’s Work With AI Voice Restoration Before His Death
In an interview with Variety, Rebecca Gayheart shared with the outlet the AI project that her late husband, Eric Dane, was working on before his death on February 19.
Dane had been working with AI firm ElevenLabs during the final weeks of his life to restore his vocal communication through a synthetic voice created using past recordings of his voice.
“[He] was really excited about it, because he was losing his voice, and it was becoming more difficult for him to communicate each and every day. So it became sort of urgent,” Gayheart said.
“He was waiting anxiously to hear it, and when we got it from ElevenLabs, it was a really big moment,” she continued. “It was a powerful moment. We played it, and Eric became visibly emotional. And when I heard it, I cried. I think everyone in the room did.”
Gayheart Thanked Fans, Loved Ones, And Supporters For Kind Words Throughout Dane’s ALS Battle
Of the outpouring of love and support she and her family have received since Dane initially announced his diagnosis, Rebecca Gayheart told the outlet of her appreciation.
“I just want to thank everybody for being so kind to us during the last couple of years. It’s been challenging and meaningful, and people are kind,” she told Variety.
“I’m having trouble receiving all of the support and love coming at me from every which way because of Eric and the [entertainment] community that’s so generous with their time,” Gayheart revealed.
“They’ve been holding me and the girls up the last two weeks, and I don’t think they’re going anywhere. I think they’re in it for the long haul. Hollywood gets a bad rap. That kind of makes me mad, because we have a lovely community of people, and I’m so grateful for them,” she added.
Eric Dane Died Less Than A Year After He Was Diagnosed With ALS
On Thursday, February 19, 2026, Dane’s family confirmed his death after publicly announcing his ALS diagnosis in 2025.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” his family said via statement. “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.”
“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always,” the statement continued.
The ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Worked Until The End Of His Life
Two months after he shared his diagnosis with the world, Eric Dane told E! News that ALS would not stop him from continuing his acting career.
“I’m going to ride this ’til the wheels fall off,” he told the outlet in June 2025. “It keeps me sharp. It keeps me moving forward, which is super important right now.”
“I feel great when I’m at work,” Dane added. “Of course, there have been some sort of setbacks, but I feel pretty good. My spirit is always pretty buoyant, so at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”
Fans will get to see Dane in one of his final roles when the hit HBO series “Euphoria” returns next month with its highly anticipated third season. In the series, he played controversial patriarch Cal Jacobs.
A GoFundMe Created For Eric Dane’s Daughters Previously Received Mixed Reactions
According to PEOPLE, on February 20, a GoFundMe was created for Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart’s two daughters, Billie, 15, and Geraldine, 13, following his death.
The fundraiser, which to date has raised close to $484,000 of its $500,000 goal, stated the intent behind the money.
“As his illness progressed far more quickly than anyone could have imagined, Eric’s friends have come together to create this GoFundMe to support his girls and their future needs,” the fundraiser reads.
“Any contribution, no matter the size, will help provide stability during this incredibly difficult time and in the future for Eric’s wonderful daughters.”
The reaction to the GoFundMe has been mixed, as some believe that, due to Dane’s Hollywood status, asking to support his children feels tone deaf, which is a similar sentiment that some fans expressed regarding the GoFundMe created for late actor James Van Der Beek that has raised $2.5 million.
“Is this the new trend, help an actor who passes young and does not prepare? How much is enough? Why always keep publishing it? He was a successful actor but if he was a regular guy it would not matter because no one but their family will care,” a commenter wrote on PEOPLE.
“Yeah, this is actually getting out of hand,” another added. “Celebrities that are living in multi-million dollar houses that make millions of dollars and are worth millions of dollars, asking average Joes to cough up money so their kids can maintain their lifestyles. No.”
One commenter shared a different outlook, noting that both Van Der Beek and Dane’s families are dealing with loss:
“These two men just died, and there is very real and raw grief being experienced by their families and loved ones. Critics should temper their comments and be respectful.”
