Eric Dane passed away last month following a temporary battle with ALS, and now his widow, actress Rebecca Gayheart, is sharing the main points of what the late actor was working on prior to his premature 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 throughout the final weeks of his life to revive his vocal communication through an artificial voice created using past recordings of his voice.
“[He] was really enthusiastic about it, because he was losing his voice, and it was becoming tougher for him to speak each and daily. So it became kind of urgent,” Gayheart said.
“He was waiting anxiously to listen to it, and after we got it from ElevenLabs, it was a extremely big moment,” she continued. “It was a strong moment. We played it, and Eric became visibly emotional. And after I heard it, I cried. I believe everyone within the room did.”
Gayheart Thanked Fans, Loved Ones, And Supporters For Kind Words Throughout Dane’s ALS Battle
Of the outpouring of affection and support she and her family have received since Dane initially announced his diagnosis, Rebecca Gayheart told the outlet of her appreciation.
“I just need to thank everybody for being so kind to us throughout the last couple of years. It’s been difficult and meaningful, and individuals are kind,” she told Variety.
“I’m having trouble receiving all the support and love coming at me from every which way due to Eric and the [entertainment] community that’s so generous with their time,” Gayheart revealed.
“They’ve been holding me and the women up the last two weeks, and I don’t think they’re going anywhere. I believe they’re in it for the long haul. Hollywood gets a nasty rap. That form of makes me mad, because we’ve got a beautiful community of individuals, and I’m so grateful for them,” she added.
Eric Dane Died Less Than A Yr 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 middle 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 identical fight. He shall be deeply missed and lovingly remembered all the time,” 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 wouldn’t stop him from continuing his acting profession.
“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 vital immediately.”
“I feel great after I’m at work,” Dane added. “In fact, there have been some kind of setbacks, but I feel pretty good. My spirit is all the time pretty buoyant, so at the tip of the day, that’s all that matters.”
Fans will get to see Dane in considered one of his final roles when the hit HBO series “Euphoria” returns next month with its highly anticipated third season. Within the series, he played controversial patriarch Cal Jacobs.
A GoFundMe Created For Eric Dane’s Daughters Previously Received Mixed Responses
In line with 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 up to now has raised near $484,000 of its $500,000 goal, stated the intent behind the cash.
“As his illness progressed much 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, irrespective of the scale, will help provide stability during this incredibly difficult time and in the long run for Eric’s wonderful daughters.”
The response to the GoFundMe has been mixed, as some consider that, on account of 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 that this the brand new trend, help an actor who passes young and doesn’t prepare? How much is enough? Why all the time keep publishing it? He was a successful actor but when he was an everyday guy it could not matter because nobody but their family will care,” a commenter wrote on PEOPLE.
“Yeah, this is definitely getting out of hand,” one other added. “Celebrities which might be living in multi-million dollar houses that make hundreds of thousands of dollars and are price hundreds of thousands of dollars, asking average Joes to cough up money so their kids can maintain their lifestyles. No.”
One commenter shared a special outlook, noting that each Van Der Beek and Dane’s families are coping with loss:
“These two men just died, and there could be very real and raw grief being experienced by their families and family members. Critics should temper their comments and be respectful.”