Profile Text
Dane in 2010, Allen Berezovsky / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Eric T. Melvin
Date of Birth: November 9, 1972
Place of Birth: San Francisco, California, United States
Date of Death: February 19, 2026
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: * father – English, German, Scottish * mother – Ashkenazi Jewish, Finnish
Eric Dane was an American actor. His roles included the series Gideon’s Crossing , The American Embassy , Charmed , Grey’s Anatomy , The Last Ship , The Fixer , Euphoria , Countdown , and Kabul ; the made-for-tv movies Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story , Helter Skelter (2004), Painkiller Jane , and Wedding Wars ; and the films The Basket (2000), Sol Goode , Feast (2005), X-Men: The Last Stand , Open Water 2: Adrift , Marley & Me , Valentine’s Day , Burlesque (2010), Grey Lady , Redeeming Love , American Carnage , Little Dixie , Americana , Dangerous Waters (2023), Bad Boys: Ride or Die , One Fast Move , and Borderline (2025).
Eric was the son of Leah (Cohn) and William Dane Melvin, who was an architect and interior designer. His father died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Eric had English, German, and Scottish ancestry on his father’s side. His maternal grandfather was of Russian Jewish and Austrian Jewish descent. His maternal grandmother was of Finnish ancestry.
Eric was raised in the Jewish faith of his mother and step-father; he was Bar Mitzvah. He attended high school in Redwood City, and San Mateo, California. As a teenager, he was known as Eric Feldman, his stepfather’s name.
Eric was married to actress and model Rebecca Gayheart , until his death, with whom he had two children.
Eric’s patrilineal line can be traced to Sir James Melvin, who was born, c. 1605, in Clackmannanshire, Scotland.
Eric’s paternal grandfather was George Francis Melvin (the son of David Holmes Melvin and Laura Mack Johnson). George was born in Milton, Santa Rosa County, Florida. David was born in Holt, Okaloosa County, Florida, the son of Joseph Melvin, Jr. and MaryAnn Elizabeth Holmes. Eric’s great-grandmother Laura was born in Brantley, Crenshaw County, Alabama, the daughter of Washington Perry Johnson and Sarah Frances Hill. Joseph Melvin’s great-grandfather, Daniel Melvin, was Scottish.
Eric’s paternal grandmother was Lonnie Mae Matthews (the daughter of John Wesley Matthews and Eva Elizabeth Ward). Lonnie was born in Milton, Santa Rosa County, Florida. John was born in Harold, Santa Rosa County, the son of Isham/Isom Burell Matthews and Elon Morrell/Morriel. Eric’s great-grandmother Eva was born in Santa Rosa County, the daughter of Hubard/Herbert Henry Ward, who was born in Germany; and of Chariety/Sharlotte Elizabeth “Lizzie” Roberts.
Eric’s maternal grandfather was Maurice Dave Cohn (the son of Henry Cohn and Frances Zimet). Maurice was born in California. Henry was a Russian Jewish immigrant, the son of Isador Aaron Cohn and Ethel. Frances was born in New York, to Austrian Jewish parents.
Eric’s maternal grandmother was Rachel Helen “Rae” Wirtanen (the daughter of John R. Wirtanen and Tyyne Sillanpaa/Bak). Rachel was born in California, to Finnish parents.
Sources: https://www.almanacnews.com http://www.interfaithfamily.com
Genealogies of Eric Dane – https://www.geni.com https://www.findagrave.com
Eric’s paternal grandfather, George Francis Melvin, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Eric’s paternal grandmother, Lonnie Mae Matthews, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Eric’s maternal grandfather, Maurice Dave Cohn, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Eric’s maternal grandmother, Rachel Helen “Rae” Wirtanen, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Article about Eric’s wife, Rebecca Gayheart (mentions Eric’s Jewish faith) – http://rebeccagayheartfan.com