Rebecca Gayheart is reflecting on the final weeks of her beloved husband, Eric Dane. The late actor's widow, 54, recently spoke with Variety about a remarkable project Dane was working on shortly before his untimely passing on February 19th at the age of 53. Just 10 months after publicly announcing his diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Dane collaborated with artificial intelligence firm ElevenLabs to restore his ability to communicate with his loved ones.
Gayheart shared that Dane was "really excited" about this project because he was gradually losing his voice and found it increasingly difficult to communicate every day. It became a matter of urgency for him. The ElevenLabs Impact Program, according to its official website, provides free licenses to individuals with accessibility needs and nonprofit organizations across healthcare, education, and culture. The voice restoration project specifically uses past recordings to create a synthetic voice for people like Dane.
At the end of his life, Gayheart revealed that she and the actor listened to his voice recreation. "He was waiting anxiously to hear it, and when we got it from ElevenLabs, it was a truly momentous occasion. It was a powerful moment," she recalled. "We played it, and Eric became visibly emotional. And when I heard it, I cried. I think everyone in the room did."
"He wanted to advocate for love and for the movement [around ALS], and so I’m here to do this for him," she added. "For a million people to get a voice to be able to communicate with their children or loved ones or caretakers or doctors or in their job — this is a truly monumental movement."
Gayheart and Dane met in 2003 and married the following year. They welcomed two daughters, Billie and Georgia, before separating in 2018. Despite their separation, Gayheart remained a key caregiver for the Euphoria star during his ALS journey.
She told the outlet that she and her family are "still in a state of shock" from the loss but praised those who have supported them during this time. "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 said. "I’m having trouble receiving all of the support and love coming from every direction because of Eric and the [entertainment] community that’s so generous with their time. 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."
Dane's family confirmed to PEOPLE last month that he died on Thursday, February 19th. "With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS," a statement read. "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," it continued. "He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time."
Days later, Gayheart took to her Instagram Stories to express how "blown away" she was by the "outpouring of love and support from our community." "There aren’t words to express our gratitude," she wrote alongside a photo of a candlelit memorial honoring the late actor. "You are truly holding us up during this difficult time."
---
