Rebecca Gayheart appeared to be maintaining a positive outlook as she was photographed enjoying a casual lunch outing with Ellen Pompeo in Beverly Hills on Friday. The actress, aged 54, was seen smiling warmly after meeting up with Pompeo, her late husband Eric Dane's former co-star from the hit medical drama Grey's Anatomy.
A Supportive Friendship Emerges
This marked the first public sighting of Gayheart and Pompeo together since Dane's tragic passing last month at the age of 53. The lunch date occurred just one day after Gayheart shared an emotional and heartfelt tribute to her late husband on social media, making Pompeo's supportive presence particularly poignant.
Gayheart seemed determined to stay upbeat as she walked into a parking garage following their meal. For the informal gathering, she opted for comfortable attire, wearing an oversized sweatshirt with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of straight-leg track pants. Her accessories included dramatically oversized red glasses and a wide-brimmed hat, which she later removed while retrieving an item from her purse.
Ellen Pompeo's Chic Appearance
Pompeo, aged 56, was spotted separately entering the parking area in a stylish jumpsuit, accompanied by a luxurious Hermes handbag. The Grey's Anatomy star has been a close friend and colleague of Eric Dane for many years, having worked alongside him for six seasons on the long-running ABC series.
Remembering Eric Dane's Legacy
Eric Dane passed away on February 19 after a courageous battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He had publicly announced his diagnosis less than a year earlier to raise awareness and support research efforts for this rapid, progressive neurodegenerative condition.
Dane gained widespread recognition for his role as Dr. Mark 'McSteamy' Sloan, appearing in 145 episodes of Grey's Anatomy alongside Pompeo's character, Dr. Meredith Grey. Although Dane and Gayheart had separated in 2017, they remained friendly co-parents and never finalized their divorce, choosing to call it off just before he revealed his ALS diagnosis.
Family Bonds and Public Appearances
The couple had been married since 2004 and welcomed two daughters together: Billie, aged 16, and Georgia, aged 14. Earlier this week, Gayheart made her first public appearance with both daughters following Dane's death, attending the premiere of The Drama, which stars Dane's Euphoria co-star Zendaya opposite Robert Pattinson.
Gayheart continued to support Dane throughout his health decline, even as both maintained separate romantic relationships. She recently shared a series of family portraits on the one-month anniversary of his death, accompanied by the caption: 'There are no words. All our love forever — your girls.'
Community Support and Memorial Plans
In the wake of Dane's passing, Euphoria creator Sam Levinson joined numerous donors contributing to a GoFundMe campaign organized by Gayheart's friends to provide financial support for her and her daughters. Additionally, plans have been announced for a public memorial service to be held in Los Angeles to honor Dane's memory.
The memorial event reportedly originated from fan enthusiasm, particularly after viewers expressed disappointment that Dane was omitted from the in memoriam segment during the Oscars ceremony last Sunday. According to a source close to Gayheart, the purpose of the memorial is to ensure Dane 'smiles and feels loved and knows that his life was not in vain.'
