Rebecca Gayheart is an American actress and former fashion model known for her roles in Dead Like Me, Scream 2, Urban Legend, Vanish, and Nip/Tuck. She has also been involved in a tragic accident that received significant media attention.
Born in 1971 in Hazard, Kentucky, Rebecca Gayheart was raised in a working-class family. Her mother, Floneva, worked as a beauty consultant, while her father, Curtis Gayheart, was a miner and part-time coal truck driver. Gayheart is of German, Irish, and Italian descent.
At age 15, she moved to New York City to pursue a modeling and acting career while attending the Professional Children's School. Her early ambition and talent led to subsequent roles in commercials and television.
Gayheart’s first screen appearance was in Brett Ratner’s short film Whatever Happened to Mason Reese (1990), and she later appeared in one of his music videos. She quickly gained recognition through a series of television commercials, which helped propel her career forward.
In 1992, she secured a major role on the soap opera Loving, marking the beginning of significant work in both television and film. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, she appeared in projects such as Scream 2, Urban Legend, and Dead Like Me. In 2002, Gayheart was initially cast in the role of Inara Serra in the television series Firefly but was replaced by Morena Baccarin after one day of filming. Director Joss Whedon later explained her departure was due to a lack of the intended chemistry on set.
In addition to her artistic endeavors, Gayheart has maintained a career in both television and film, showcasing her versatility and resilience. Her estimated net worth is approximately $5 million.
Gayheart began dating actor Eric Dane in 2003, and the couple married in 2004 after a ten-month courtship. They have two daughters together. Prior to her marriage to Dane, Gayheart was engaged to director Brett Ratner, with whom she also collaborated professionally during her early career. Details surrounding the end of their engagement have not been publicly disclosed.
In 2009, a private video involving Gayheart, Dane, and former beauty queen Kari Ann Peniche was leaked online. While the video sparked media curiosity, Gayheart and Dane chose to handle the matter privately, avoiding public confrontation or extended commentary. Despite the controversy, there were no confirmed rumors of separation at the time. She later expressed her appreciation for married life and regarded Dane as a supportive partner.
| Birth Date: | 12 Aug, 1971 |
| Age: | 48 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Hazard |
| Education: | Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | American actress |
| Spouse: | Eric Dane [M. 2004] |
| Net Worth 2021: | 5 million |
