In the days following the passing of Eric Dane on February 19, 2026, public attention has turned toward the evolving personal life of Rebecca Gayheart. Dane died after battling ALS, a diagnosis he had shared publicly the previous year. While Gayheart has remained focused on supporting her daughters and honoring Dane’s memory, interest has also grown around her reported relationship with entrepreneur Peter Morton. The connection, which began several years ago, has drawn attention due to Morton’s prominent business career and the unique family dynamic Gayheart maintained with Dane until his final days.
Morton is best known as the co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, the globally recognized restaurant brand he launched in London in 1971 alongside Isaac Tigrett. A graduate of the University of Denver, Morton expanded the brand internationally, later selling his stake in the company in 1995. He also developed the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, which he sold in 2006. Beyond his business success, Morton’s personal life has included both high-profile marriages and profound loss, including the passing of his son, restaurateur Harry Morton, in 2019. These experiences have shaped the quieter, more private chapter of his later years.
Gayheart and Morton were first romantically linked in 2023, during a period when she and Dane were separated but still legally married. Although Gayheart filed for divorce in 2018, the case was dismissed in 2025, and the two remained legally wed. Over the years, both Gayheart and Dane were open about the complexity of their relationship, describing it as rooted in deep friendship and shared commitment to their daughters. They met in 2003 and built a life that included more than two decades of partnership, raising two children together while navigating both personal and professional challenges.
When Dane publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis, Gayheart stood firmly by his side, describing their bond as familial and enduring, even if no longer traditionally romantic. Dane himself referred to her as one of his greatest supporters during his health battle. In a statement following his passing, his family shared that he spent his final days surrounded by loved ones, including Gayheart and their daughters. As she moves forward, Gayheart’s story reflects resilience, co-parenting partnership, and the ability to maintain compassion and loyalty through life’s most difficult chapters.