Rebecca Gayheart is an American actress and former model best known for her roles in 1990s films including Urban Legend, Jawbreaker, and Scream 2, as well as her early work on Beverly Hills, 90210. Born in Kentucky in 1971, she later married actor Eric Dane, with whom she shares two daughters. In recent years she has balanced family responsibilities, including supporting Dane through his ALS diagnosis and death in 2026, with a return to performing.
Quick Answer
Rebecca Gayheart is a 55-year-old actress from Hazard, Kentucky, who gained prominence in the 1990s as a model (notably the Noxzema Girl) and through roles in Beverly Hills, 90210, Urban Legend, Jawbreaker, and Scream 2. She married Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria actor Eric Dane in 2004; they separated years later but remained connected as co-parents. Dane died in February 2026 after an ALS diagnosis. Gayheart has two daughters, Billie and Georgia. In 2026 she returned to the stage in Jawbreaker: The Musical and stars with her daughter Georgia in the Lifetime film The Ocean Between Them.
Rebecca Gayheart Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Rebecca Gayheart |
| Date of birth | August 12, 1971 |
| Age | 55 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Hazard, Kentucky |
| Profession | Actress, former model |
| Known for | Urban Legend, Jawbreaker, Scream 2, Beverly Hills, 90210, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood |
| Spouse | Eric Dane (married 2004; he died February 2026) |
| Children | Billie and Georgia |
| Education | Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute |
What Is Rebecca Gayheart Best Known For?
Rebecca Gayheart is best known for a cluster of high-profile 1990s roles. She played the love interest Antonia “Toni” Marchette on Beverly Hills, 90210, appeared in Scream 2, starred as the memorable Brenda in the slasher film Urban Legend (1998), and played Julie Freeman in the dark teen comedy Jawbreaker (1999). Earlier she became a recognizable face through national Noxzema commercials. Later credits include a small role in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Gayheart was born on August 12, 1971, in Hazard, Kentucky. She studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. She began modeling and acting in the early 1990s, gaining national attention through Noxzema advertisements that led to the nickname “the Noxzema Girl.”
Her early television work included a main role on the soap opera Loving (1992–1993) and appearances in the series Earth 2. In 1995 she joined Beverly Hills, 90210 as Toni Marchette, the girlfriend (and briefly wife) of Luke Perry’s character Dylan McKay; the role lasted several episodes before the character was written out.
Breakthrough in Film
Gayheart’s film profile rose in the late 1990s. She appeared in Nothing to Lose (1997) and Scream 2 (1997). In 1998 she took a lead role in Urban Legend as Brenda, a college student entangled in a series of murders patterned after urban myths. The following year she starred in Jawbreaker as Julie Freeman, one of a trio of popular high-school girls involved in a dark secret. These roles cemented her association with late-1990s teen and horror cinema.
She continued working in film and television through the 2000s, including guest and recurring appearances on series such as Nip/Tuck. In 2019 she returned to a high-profile film set for a brief role as Billie Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Personal Life and Family
Gayheart married actor Eric Dane on October 29, 2004. The couple have two daughters: Billie (born 2010) and Georgia (born 2011). They separated around 2017; Gayheart filed for divorce in 2018 citing irreconcilable differences. The pair never finalized the divorce. In March 2025 she withdrew the petition.
In April 2025 Dane publicly disclosed an ALS diagnosis. Gayheart has described their relationship as complicated and non-romantic but familial. She supported him as a “care partner,” helping coordinate medical care and nursing while the daughters lived primarily with her. Dane died on February 19, 2026, at age 53. Gayheart has publicly expressed gratitude for community support and has continued to speak about the importance of family, dignity, and showing up for one another.
She was linked to Hard Rock Cafe co-founder Peter Morton beginning around 2023; reports indicate they separated in 2025 prior to Dane’s death.
Legal Matter
In 2001 Gayheart was involved in a fatal traffic accident in Los Angeles in which a nine-year-old child was struck and later died. She pleaded to vehicular manslaughter and received probation.
What Is Rebecca Gayheart Doing Now?
In 2026 Gayheart returned to performing after years focused on family. She appeared in the Los Angeles stage production Jawbreaker: The Musical (September 2026 at the Hudson Theatre), taking on the dual challenge of roles that combine elements of Principal Sherwood and another character from the original film. She has spoken candidly about feeling nervous as a non-singer but motivated to step outside her comfort zone and model resilience for her daughters.
She also stars in the Lifetime movie The Ocean Between Them, scheduled to premiere around late September 2026. In the film she plays Joan, a mother whose daughter disappears during a vacation; her real-life daughter Georgia makes her acting debut as Joan’s younger daughter, Ashley.
Gayheart has continued to advocate for ALS research and awareness in memory of Dane, including support for legislative efforts related to research funding.
Notable Credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Toni Marchette | Recurring |
| 1997 | Scream 2 | Supporting | Horror franchise |
| 1998 | Urban Legend | Brenda | Lead role in slasher film |
| 1999 | Jawbreaker | Julie Freeman | Cult teen comedy |
| 2019 | Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | Billie Booth | Quentin Tarantino film |
| 2026 | Jawbreaker: The Musical | Principal Sherwood (and related roles) | Stage production, Los Angeles |
| 2026 | The Ocean Between Them | Joan | Lifetime film; co-stars with daughter Georgia |
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Rebecca Gayheart?
Rebecca Gayheart was born on August 12, 1971. She is 55 years old as of 2026.
What is Rebecca Gayheart famous for?
She is known for 1990s roles in Urban Legend, Jawbreaker, Scream 2, and Beverly Hills, 90210, as well as her early modeling work as the Noxzema Girl. She was married to actor Eric Dane.
Was Rebecca Gayheart married to Eric Dane?
Yes. They married in 2004, separated around 2017, and she filed for divorce in 2018. She later withdrew the petition. Dane died in February 2026 after an ALS diagnosis. They share two daughters.
Does Rebecca Gayheart have children?
Yes. She and Eric Dane have two daughters, Billie and Georgia.
What is Rebecca Gayheart doing now?
In 2026 she appeared in the stage musical adaptation of Jawbreaker in Los Angeles and stars with her daughter Georgia in the Lifetime film The Ocean Between Them. She has also spoken publicly about family life after Dane’s death and ALS advocacy.
Is Rebecca Gayheart still acting?
Yes. After a period focused on raising her children, she returned to performance work in 2026 with both stage and television projects.
