Janell Shirtcliff Shares Touching Tribute After Eric Dane’s Death and New Details of His Final Months
Days after Eric Dane’s death at age 53 following a battle with ALS, janell shirtcliff offered a private look at their relationship, posting several photographs and moments that illuminate the couple’s time together and the actor’s final months.
Janell Shirtcliff Shares Photos and Private Moments
Janell Shirtcliff, a photographer who has worked with Post Malone, Jenna Ortega and Dua Lipa, posted a series of social media Story updates two days after Dane’s death. The posts included a black-and-white image of him smiling while getting a tattoo on his left arm, a picture of him in a white T-shirt and a tan cowboy hat posing next to a horse, and intimate PDA shots: one of Dane planting a kiss on the side of her head on a stairwell and a selfie of him leaning toward her shoulder. janell shirtcliff also showcased a tender moment between Dane and one of her children, who held a camera and directed an impromptu shoot, telling him to look toward mom and to smile.
What Janell Shirtcliff Posted and What It Reveals
The Instagram Story posts — shared on Feb. 21 — present a candid portrait of the couple’s chemistry and domestic warmth in private settings. The images and clips trace ordinary, affectionate moments and underscore the bond Dane developed with one of her kids. Outreach to their representatives at the time of the couple’s public appearances went unanswered.
Eric Dane’s Final Months and ALS Battle
Eric Dane announced his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in April 2025. By June of that year he had lost the use of his right arm. In public statements and interviews in the months that followed he spoke about the progression of his condition, and he canceled a January appearance at the ALS Network’s Champions for Cures and Care Gala because he was not well enough to attend. He spent time advocating for research and awareness, joining the board of directors at Target ALS and remaining active in public-facing projects where possible, including playing a firefighter battling ALS in an episode of the series Brilliant Minds in November.
The disease Dane faced is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease; historically noted figures who suffered from the condition include Stephen Hawking and Roberta Flack.
Johnny Depp’s Quiet Assistance and Offers to Others
During Dane’s illness, actor Johnny Depp welcomed him into one of his Los Angeles homes above the Sunset Strip under a pay-what-you-can arrangement, allowing Dane to live essentially rent-free and to pay whatever he could or could not for rent. Depp and Dane had met through mutual friends years earlier, and the arrangement was intended to ease Dane’s financial burden as his health declined.
That same approach was reportedly extended to actor Mickey Rourke, who faced eviction in January after owing nearly $60, 000 in overdue rent; Rourke had not accepted the offer. Rourke also declined donations from a GoFundMe established by his manager.
Family Statement, Rebecca Gayheart and Relationship Timeline
A family statement on Dane’s passing said he spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife and his two daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were described as the center of his world. The statement added that throughout his journey with ALS he became a passionate advocate for awareness and research and that he would be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
Despite reports of an apparent courtship with Janell Shirtcliff, Dane remained legally married to estranged wife Rebecca Gayheart. The couple separated in 2017 but did not finalize matters immediately; they shared daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14. When Gayheart filed for divorce she cited irreconcilable differences and sought spousal support along with joint legal and physical custody of the children.
On the subject of his lasting feelings for his estranged wife, Dane reflected in his final interview with Brad Falchuck for the Feb. 20 episode of Famous Last Words that he had never fallen in love with another woman as deeply as he had with Rebecca, noting her role as the mother of his children and the organic weight of their relationship.
The pair’s early courtship was described by Dane as unremarkable in its beginning — a simple invitation to go out — yet they married less than a year after they began dating, exchanging vows in Las Vegas. After Dane announced he was leaving the drama The Last Ship due to a battle with depression, Gayheart posted supportive messages on social media.
What Comes Next
The images shared by janell shirtcliff add a personal dimension to the public picture of Eric Dane’s last year: moments of tenderness, creative collaboration and care from close friends. As his advocacy work with Target ALS and his public appearances are reviewed, attention will likely continue to focus on awareness and research for the disease he faced. Details surrounding memorial plans and long-term projects tied to his advocacy remain unclear in the provided context.
