Rebecca Gayheart has opened up about the earliest change she noticed in her late husband, Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane, before he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The actor, who also appeared in HBO's Euphoria, died in February 2026 at the age of 53 following his battle with the progressive neurological disease.
Dane publicly announced his ALS diagnosis in April 2025 and subsequently became an advocate for greater awareness of the condition.
Now, Gayheart has recalled how a seemingly ordinary health complaint first raised concerns months before the actor began experiencing more noticeable physical difficulties.
Her comments came during a November 4 appearance on Drew Barrymore's Personal Space, shortly after the release of Dane's posthumous memoir.
What was the first symptom Rebecca Gayheart noticed?
According to Gayheart, the first change that concerned her was Dane repeatedly experiencing headaches, something she said was extremely unusual for him.
Speaking to Barrymore, the actress explained that her husband had almost never complained about headaches throughout their relationship.
"He never once had a headache for all the years we were married or dated," Gayheart recalled.
She said Dane had begun mentioning headaches over several months, long before the weakness in his hand became apparent.
Because the complaint was so out of character, Gayheart questioned why he had suddenly started experiencing them.
She recalled telling him: "Eric, you never get headaches. You've never taken an Advil. What are you talking about a headache?"
However, Dane initially believed there was a much simpler explanation for the discomfort.
According to Gayheart, he thought he had slept awkwardly and strained his neck.
She explained that the complaints continued but did not initially seem serious enough to prompt immediate alarm.
"There were definitely signs, but nothing was so major that you would really stop and pay attention to it," she said.
Importantly, headaches are not considered a typical early symptom of ALS, and Gayheart's recollection does not establish that they were caused by the disease.
What happened when Eric Dane began losing control of his hand?
In his memoir, My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments, published on November 3, 2026, Dane described the moment he first noticed something was seriously wrong with his right hand.
The actor recalled eating sushi when he suddenly struggled to use his chopsticks.
"Suddenly I can't work the chopsticks with my right hand," he wrote.
He described experiencing tingling and numbness in his fingers, making it increasingly difficult to perform ordinary tasks.
Initially, Dane wondered whether the problem was connected to spending too much time using his phone.
However, the symptoms persisted, and he gradually lost more of the function in his right hand.
Unlike headaches, progressive muscle weakness is a recognised symptom of ALS, which damages the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary movement.
The condition can initially affect one hand, arm, leg or the muscles involved in speaking and swallowing.
Why was Eric Dane initially given a different diagnosis?
As the difficulties with his hand continued, Dane sought medical advice from several specialists.
In his memoir, he described visiting a hand specialist before being referred to another specialist and eventually a neurologist.
He underwent numerous investigations, including electromyography, commonly known as an EMG.
The test examines electrical activity in muscles and can help doctors investigate disorders affecting nerves and muscle function.
Following the initial assessments, doctors reportedly reached a diagnosis of multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN).
MMN is a rare neurological condition that can cause progressive weakness, particularly in the hands and arms.
Although it can share some clinical features with ALS, MMN is a different condition and may respond to treatment.
For Dane, the initial diagnosis offered hope that his symptoms could be managed.
However, further investigations approximately nine months later led doctors to diagnose him with ALS.
What is ALS and what are its early symptoms?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurological disease affecting motor neurons, the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement.
As these neurons deteriorate, muscles gradually weaken, making everyday activities increasingly difficult.
ALS is the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND).
Early symptoms can vary between individuals but may include:
Symptoms often begin gradually and may initially be mistaken for other conditions.
Headaches alone are not a characteristic warning sign of ALS, and most headaches have causes unrelated to motor neurone disease.
Anyone experiencing persistent or worsening muscle weakness should seek medical advice rather than attempting to diagnose the cause themselves.
What did Rebecca Gayheart say about Eric Dane's final months?
Gayheart and Dane married in 2004 and share two daughters, Billie and Georgia.
Although Gayheart filed for divorce in 2018, the couple later moved to dismiss the proceedings in 2025.
They remained closely connected as Dane faced his diagnosis and the progression of his illness.
Following his death, representatives for the actor confirmed that he had spent his final days surrounded by loved ones, including Gayheart and their daughters.
The family also paid tribute to his commitment to raising awareness of ALS and supporting research into the disease.
His representatives said Dane had become determined to make a difference for other people facing the same diagnosis.
What did Eric Dane reveal in his posthumous memoir?
Dane's memoir, My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments, was released on November 3, 2026, several months after his death.
The book provides a personal account of his life, career and experience with the neurological condition.
Among its revelations are details of the gradual deterioration in his hand function and the uncertainty he experienced while seeking an explanation.
His account also describes the sequence of medical appointments that preceded his ALS diagnosis.
Gayheart's recollections offer another perspective on that period, highlighting how the couple initially struggled to interpret changes that seemed relatively minor.
Although the headaches she noticed are not recognised as a typical ALS symptom, her comments illustrate how difficult it can be for families to understand unexplained health changes before a diagnosis is established.
Dane is survived by Gayheart and their two daughters, with his memoir providing a lasting account of his experiences in his own words.
