What is Rebecca Gayheart's connection to Grey's Anatomy?

Rebecca Gayheart, the American actress and model, has one interesting connection to one of the longest-running medical dramas, Grey's Anatomy. Despite not appearing in it in any capacity, she shares this connection because of knowing someone in the cast of the popular Shonda Rhimes show. That actor was none other than actor Eric Dane, who played Dr. Mark Sloan/McSteamy.

She was married to Dane from 2004 to 2018, and around that time, the press referred to Gayheart as "Mrs. McSteamy." However, she shocked the fans of the couple and the world in February 2018 by filing for divorce. She cited irreconcilable differences as the reason behind this separation but continues to maintain that they are friends and figuring out co-parenting.

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How is Rebecca Gayheart connected to Grey's Anatomy?

As stated before, Gayheart was married to Grey's Anatomy's "McSteamy" actor Eric Dane for fourteen years. Before dating Dane in 2004, the actress was with director Brett Ratner till 1999. She met the Mark Sloan actor in Las Vegas and supposedly hit it off instantly. In an old Flaunt Magazine interview, here's how Dane described their courtship:

"It's probably one of the least interesting stories in the world. It went basically like this: 'You wanna go out?' 'Yeah, sure.' Ten months later, we were married."

Their relationship even survived a controversy back in 2009 when a sensitive video featuring Dane, Gayheart, and Kari Ann Peniche was leaked on gawker.com. Despite that, they remained together and became parents to two daughters born in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Things seemed fine until September 2018, when the actress filed for a divorce because of incompatibility.

However, it seems that they maintain a platonic relationship as friends even today and that despite separation, the couple is still legally married. Rebecca Gayheart gave an interview to People Magazine in July 2019 in which she expressed happiness about how the kids turned out and the co-parenting situation with Eric Dane. Here's what she said:

“Well, here’s the thing. There’s a new normal for me and my family, as you know. And it’s taken us a little bit to get that down. Not going to lie, it hasn’t been easy. But I think what’s exciting is what’s ahead because there are so many different things that could happen now. I mean, we have so many options, and the good news is my kids are happy and healthy.”

Then she touched upon her current equation with her ex-husband, the Grey's Anatomy actor Eric Dane, by saying:

“My ex Eric and I, we are friends and we are doing our best to co-parent and maintain a family, even though we’re not married. Legally we’re still married, but separated. And I think we’re doing a pretty good job of it. Life is just good. There are so many exciting things happening.”

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Grey's Anatomy is currently airing its 21st season on ABC.