The Young and the Restless star Jessica Collins remembers the late Eric Dane, husband to her Loving TV sister 

Eric Dane, Rebecca Gayheart, and Jessica Collins, The Young and the Restless | Image: JPI
Eric Dane, Rebecca Gayheart, and Jessica Collins, The Young and the Restless | Image: JPI

The Young and the Restless star Jessica Collins, who played Avery Bailey Clarke, began her soap opera career as Dinah Lee Mayberry on Loving, the ABC half-hour serial. Dinah Lee's half-sister on the show, Hannah, was played by Rebecca Gayheart, who was married to the late Eric Dane.

The Young and the Restless star Jessica Collins remembers Eric Dane

"Eric, you will be so missed," Collins wrote of her friend, who passed away on February 20, nearly a year after announcing that he was suffering from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). "You met this fight with honesty, passion, and grace, and in doing so brought awareness to ALS that will no doubt help others facing the same fight. Your spirit lives on-always-in your beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia.

"@rebeccagayheartdane, your unwavering love and care and kindness for Eric and your girls cannot be put into words," Collins continued. "I am in awe of your incredible strength and devotion, my dear friend. Holding you all in so much love. ❤️."

While Gayheart and Dane filed for divorce in 2018, their split was never legalized.

A Great Dane

Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart at the 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | Image: JPI
Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart at the 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | Image: JPI

Dane and Gayheart met in 2003 and were married less than a year later. Gayheart is the mother of Dane's daughters, Billie and Georgia.

In addition to her role on Loving, Gayheart is known for a three-episode arc on Nip/Tuck, which starred the late Julian McMahon as Dr. Christian Troy. Gayheart played the part of Natasha Charles. Her other credits include CSI: Miami, Medium, Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood, and Scream 2.

Dane was known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan (AKA "McSteamy") on Grey's Anatomy and his turn as Cal Jacobs on Euphoria.

After Dane and Gayheart separated, the two continued as co-parents to their daughters. Gayheart stood by Dane during his illness.

Collins won the 2016 Daytime Emmy in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Avery Bailey Clarke on The Young and the Restless. The actress played the part of the attorney who fought for the wrongly convicted from 2011 to 2015.

After leaving Y&R, Collins starred as Diane Davies in the Apple TV+ series Acapulco. Collins' character, Diane, was a soap opera star from the 1980s.

Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.

Edited by Michael Maloney