Eric Dane’s widow Rebecca Gayheart supported by daughters Billie, 16, and Georgia, 14, at opening of her musical… 7 months after his ALS death

Eric Dane‘s widow Rebecca Gayheart has returned to the spotlight with a starring role in a new musical.

Seven months after the beloved Grey’s Anatomy star passed away, Gayheart took the stage at Hollywood’s Hudson Theatre in Hollywood for the opening night of Jawbreaker: The Musical.

The actress was supported by her daughters with Dane, Billie, 16, and Georgia, 14, with the trio posing for photos together on the red carpet.

Although Dane and Gayheart separated in 2017, they remained friendly co-parents and never finalized their divorce. They called off the legal end of their marriage shortly before the actor revealed he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. 

Dane succumbed to the incurable nervous system disease in February at age 53.

The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Gayheart for comment. 

Although Dane and Gayheart separated in 2017, they remained friendly co-parents and never finalized their divorce. Dane succumbed to ALS in February at age 53

Gayheart starred in the original 1999 film Jawbreaker, a dark teen comedy that also featured Rose McGowan, Judy Greer, Pam Grier and Marilyn Manson.

Although she played the popular high school girl Jules in the movie, Gayheart has switched parts for the stage show, stepping into the role of Assistant Principal Sherwood that was originated onscreen by Carol Kane.

The book for the stage version is by the movie’s writer and director Darren Stein with choreography by RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Laganja Estranja. 

Throughout her estranged husband’s chronic health battle, Gayheart remained a constant source of support for the star, who shot to fame as Dr Mark Sloan aka ‘McSteamy’ in the long-running ABC medical drama.

Dane and Gayheart tied the knot in 2004, two years before the actor landed his fan favorite role.

Gayheart stood by Dane through various personal problems, including his rehab stay in 2011 to wean himself off pain medication he was taking for an injury. 

Six years later in 2017, Dane entered treatment for depression, resulting in a filming pause on his action drama series The Last Ship.

The next year, Gayheart filed for divorce on grounds of irreconcilable differences, and the pair agreed on joint custody of their daughters with Dane paying alimony.

Gayheart, who acted infrequently after having children, remarked a few months after her divorce filing that she wanted to start working again.

‘I think that as a female you need to be able to always take care of yourself and never depend on a man,’ she told Us Weekly. ‘I’m going back to work and I think it’s partly because I want my daughters to see me work.’

She explained that she and Eric were ‘doing our best’ to co-parent their children, acknowledging: ‘It isn’t easy. But we are trying and we are committed.’

Dane shot to fame as Dr Mark Sloan aka ‘McSteamy’ in the long-running ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. He continued to work up until a few months before his death

Gayheart (right) is a teen model turned actress and her new musical is based on the 1999 movie Jawbreaker she starred in with Rose McGowan and Julie Benz 

In order to help provide for his daughters in the wake of his death, Dane’s friends set up a GoFundMe that quickly surpassed its initial goal of $250,000. 

A source revealed Johnny Depp had also attempted to ‘ease the financial burden’ by allowing Dane to stay at one of his homes during his ALS battle. 

‘He was living basically rent-free in one of the homes Johnny owns above the Sunset Strip. He told Eric to pay whatever he could or — couldn’t for rent,’ the source told Page Six, adding that Dane as a result had ‘one less thing to worry about.’ 

Dane sharply declined after his diagnosis, using a wheelchair, losing the use of his right arm and pulling out of a public appearance the month before he died, citing the ‘physical realities’ his illness had forced him to face.

He had secretly recorded a final message for his daughters to be released posthumously in a Netflix special entitled Famous Last Words: Eric Dane.  

‘Billie and Georgia, these words are for you: I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried,’ he said, speaking directly to the camera. ‘Overall, we had a blast, didn’t we?’

Dane then shared the four lessons he had learned over the course of his life that he wanted to impart to his daughters.

Dane sharply declined after his ALS diagnosis and secretly recorded a message for his daughters released posthumously in a Netflix special Famous Last Words: Eric Dane 

‘First, live now, right now in the present. It’s hard, but I learned to do that,’ he said. ‘For years, I would wander off mentally, lost in my head for long chunks of time, wallowing in worry and self-pity, shame and doubt. I replayed decisions, second-guessed myself. “I shouldn’t have done this. I never should’ve done that.”‘ 

However, he ultimately declared: ‘No more,’ a change in mindset that he characterized as a decision he made ‘out of pure survival.’

Dane went on: ‘Second, fall in love. Not necessarily with a person, although I do recommend that as well. But fall in love with something.

‘Find your passion, your joy. Find the thing that makes you wanna get up in the morning.’

Thirdly, he advised his daughters to ‘choose your friends wisely.’

‘Find your people and allow them to find you and then give yourselves to them,’ he explained. ‘No judgement. No conditions. No questions asked.’

Sharing his gratitude for the friends who ‘stepped up’ when he became ill, he urged Billie and Georgis: ‘Just show up. And love your friends with everything you have. Hang on to them. They will entertain you, guide you, support you and some will save you.’

Finally, he exhorted them to ‘fight with every ounce of your being and with dignity. When you face challenges, health or otherwise, fight.

‘Never give up. Fight until your last breath. This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit. So when something unexpected hits you, and it will, because that’s life, fight and face it with honesty, integrity and grace, even if it feels or seems insurmountable.’

He concluded: ‘Billie and Georgia, you are my heart. You are my everything. Good night. I love you. Those are my last words.’