Eric Dane’s girlfriend celebrates his ‘final year’ with a sweet behind-the-scenes photo dump

It’s hard to believe that Eric Dane, the man behind the legendary Dr Mark Sloan a.k.a. ‘McSteamy’ on "Grey’s Anatomy", is gone.

The actor passed away on February 19, at 53, from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a cruel disease that slowly robs the body of its strength. But while the world mourns, those closest to him are sharing the warmth, laughter and love that defined his final months.

Just two days after his passing, Dane’s girlfriend, Janell Shirtcliff, opened up on social media. She shared a string of photos and videos capturing tender moments from their last year together.

There’s Dane’s trademark charming smile, fully intact even as ALS tightened its grip, caught while getting a tattoo or laughing beside her. There’s a video of them driving through a desert, belting out Dire Straits’ "Money for Nothing", proving that even in the shadow of illness, he could still find joy in the little things.

Some clips are even more intimate. One shows Dane planting a soft kiss on Janell’s temple, holding her close as they pose on a set of steps.

In another heart-warming moment, his daughter can be seen gently positioning him for a photo, a quiet reminder of how much life and love still surrounded him, even as his body betrayed him.

One clip also shows Dane planting a gentle kiss on Shirtcliff’s temple, while another features a little girl carefully setting up a pose for a photo of him.

Shirtcliff was also by his side at his final red carpet appearance in Los Angeles last June, eight months before he died.

The private details of Dane’s love life add layers to the story. Priya Jain, another woman close to him, has reportedly been in an on-and-off relationship with Dane for over three years.

Sources told "Page Six" that Dane and Jain “never broke up” and that she became exclusive with him in November 2024, just before his ALS diagnosis.

Jain is said to have spent nearly every night at his house, built a relationship with his daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, and supported him through the early months of his illness.

According to insiders, Dane had asked Shirtclif to be there for him during that period, and she stepped up to share those moments.

Meanwhile, Dane’s estranged wife, Rebecca Gayheart, also shared her grief and gratitude publicly. Though they had separated years earlier, they never fully divorced after Dane’s diagnosis, and she remained by his side as a co-parent and friend.

She posted a heartfelt message expressing how “blown away” she was by the support from friends, fans, and family, and shared images with their daughters honouring his memory.

Dane had often spoken of Gayheart with deep affection, saying they still loved each other and remained connected, showing that bonds formed over years of family and shared history endure even beyond romance.