Janell Shirtcliff Shares Intimate Photos After Eric Dane’s Death as New Details of Johnny Depp’s Support Emerge
Photographer janell shirtcliff published a series of candid images of the late actor Eric Dane in the days following his death, offering a private look at their relationship. The posts arrive amid further revelations about assistance Dane received while battling ALS and a fuller picture of his final months.
Janell Shirtcliff Posts Intimate Photos
On Feb. 21, janell shirtcliff used Instagram Stories to share several images and clips of Eric Dane, who died on Feb. 19 at age 53 after a struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The photographer — known for shooting Post Malone, Jenna Ortega and Dua Lipa — included a black‑and‑white photo of Dane smiling while getting a tattoo on his left arm and a shot of him in a white T‑shirt and tan cowboy hat standing beside a horse. She also posted personal moments: one where Dane planted a kiss on the side of her head as they posed on stairs and a selfie of him leaning toward her shoulder.
The material also showed Dane interacting with one of Shirtcliff’s children, who held a camera and directed an impromptu photoshoot. In a clip the youngster told Dane, “I want you to look over there at mom, ” then instructed him to “smile. ” Outreach to their representatives did not receive a response.
Johnny Depp’s Los Angeles Home Offer
Friends stepped in to reduce Dane’s burdens during his illness. Johnny Depp opened a residence he owns above the Sunset Strip to Dane on a pay‑what‑you‑can basis, allowing the actor to live essentially rent‑free and to pay what he could or could not for rent. Depp and Dane met through mutual friends years earlier, and the arrangement was intended to ease the financial strain as Dane’s condition progressed.
That same flexible approach was reportedly extended to another actor, Mickey Rourke, though Rourke had not accepted the offer. Rourke had been evicted in January after owing almost $60, 000 in overdue rent and turned down donations tied to a fundraiser set up by his manager.
Eric Dane’s Final Days and Family Statement
Dane’s family released a statement saying, “With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS. 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. ” The statement added, “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” and concluded, “He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. ”
ALS Timeline, Advocacy and Professional Notes
Dane announced his ALS diagnosis in April 2025. By June, he had lost the use of his right arm; speaking with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America he said, “My left side is functioning, my right side has completely stopped working, ” and added that he feared he might lose use of his left hand in a matter of months. During his illness he joined the board of directors at Target ALS, a research‑funding organization, and in November he portrayed a firefighter with ALS in an episode of the series Brilliant Minds.
In January Dane canceled an appearance at the ALS Network’s Champions for Cures and Care Gala, where he was slated to be honored, because he was not well enough to attend due to the physical realities of ALS.
Rebecca Gayheart and the Family History
Despite his relationship with Shirtcliff, Dane remained legally married to estranged wife Rebecca Gayheart. The couple separated in 2017 and Gayheart sought spousal support along with joint legal and physical custody of their daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, when she filed for divorce. Dane had spoken about his enduring feelings for Gayheart in his final interview on the Feb. 20 episode of Famous Last Words with Brad Falchuck, saying, “I will never, by the time anybody sees this, would have ever fallen in love with another woman as deeply as I fell in love with Rebecca. She’s the mother of my children, and the whole weight of thinking about it was so organic and fortuitous. ”
Additional Notes from the Provided Material
Earlier in his career Dane left the TNT drama The Last Ship because of a battle with depression; at the time Gayheart used social media to show her support. A separate line in the provided material contained only the phrase “Just a moment... ”; unclear in the provided context.
What makes this notable is the combination of personal and public threads: candid images from a close partner, a high‑profile friend providing practical help, and Dane’s own shift toward advocacy — all converging in the weeks surrounding his death.
