Rebecca Gayheart has revealed that Eric Dane spent some of his final weeks working on an urgent personal project, using artificial intelligence to restore his voice before ALS robbed him of it entirely.

Gayheart, 54, spoke to Variety about her late husband’s collaboration with AI firm ElevenLabs in the weeks before his death on 19th February at the age of 53. 

Dane, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis just ten months before he died, had been losing his ability to speak as the disease progressed. 

“He was really excited about it, because he was losing his voice, and it was becoming more difficult for him to communicate each and every day. So it became sort of urgent,” Gayheart recalled. 

ElevenLabs’ Impact Program, which provides free licences to individuals with accessibility needs, uses past recordings to create a synthetic voice for people in Dane’s situation.

The moment they heard the finished result together was one Gayheart will not forget. 

“He was waiting anxiously to hear it, and when we got it from ElevenLabs it was a really big moment. It was a powerful moment,” she said. 

“We played it, and Eric became visibly emotional. And when I heard it, I cried. I think everyone in the room did.” 

She added that Dane had wanted to use the experience to advocate more broadly for ALS awareness and the wider movement around voice restoration technology. 

“For a million people to get a voice to be able to communicate with their children or their loved ones or their caretakers or their doctors or in their job, this is a really huge movement,” she said. 

“He wanted to advocate for love and for the movement and so I’m there to do this for him.”

Gayheart and Dane, best known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, met in 2003 and married the following year. 

They separated in 2018 but remained close, and Gayheart became one of his primary carers during his illness.

The couple share two daughters, Billie, 16, and Georgia, 14. Dane’s family confirmed his passing in a statement to PEOPLE, describing him as a “passionate advocate for awareness and research” who was surrounded by friends, his wife, and his daughters in his final days.

Iranian authorities have issued a stark warning that oil prices could skyrocket to $200 per barrel as the Islamic Republic escalates its military campaign in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, vowing to halt all petroleum shipments to the U.S. and its allies.

The warning follows as at least three vessels were struck by projectiles in the vital chokehold on Wednesday, March 11.

The price rise to $200 per barrel has impacts beyond geopolitical sabre-rattling, directly affecting household budgets globally.

The most immediate impact hits drivers worldwide.

It is expected that the gas prices could surge in the United States past $6 per gallon. Europeans, already paying $6 to $8 per gallon with taxes, can see prices reaching $10 or more.

In developing nations of the region, the fuel costs could become unbearable, forcing families to choose between commuting and eating.

In addition to oil prices, fertilizer prices are also at risk. The World Food Programme warns that every dollar increase in oil prices pushes millions closer to hunger.

Heating homes and electricity demand will follow crude prices upwards.

For Europe, which is currently in the grip of an energy crisis, heating costs in winter may no longer be affordable for millions of people.

For developing countries, where governments often heavily subsidize electricity costs, it may mean severe cuts in other areas of public expenditure or even power outages.

Air conditioning in sweltering summers in the Middle East and South Asia may no longer be affordable.

The conditions can create a ripple effect affecting everything, everywhere, all at once.

Manufacturing grinds slower when energy costs soar. With high energy prices, manufacturing grinds to a halt.

In China, factories are already facing impossible margins.

Retailers from Lagos to London raise prices. Airlines tack on fuel surcharges, making travel prohibitive for ordinary families.

Additionally, ride-hailing services are becoming too expensive, and delivery apps are adding fees.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued a stark warning that sustained $200 oil could shave 1.5 to 2% points off global GDP, which is enough to tip multiple economies into recession.

Although the conflict lies between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, the whole world is paying the price. 

The royal family’s untiring couple, Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward, pulled at the heartstrings of sports fans with their charm and support at the MilanoCortina2026 Winter Paralympic Games.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh spread love and harmony as they cheered on ParalympicsGB.

Sophie, 61, looked stunning as she wore a striking red Adidas puffer jacket while engaging in conversation with an athlete.

On Wednesday, the royal family’s official Instagram account shared candid moments of the couple watching British athletes in action across multiple events and met members of the team competing in the Games.

The Duke of Edinburgh celebrated his 62nd birthday at the Paralympic Winter Games in Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy, where he was joined by his wife Sophie.

The royal couple appeared in good spirits as they mingled with attendees at the Paralympic village.

Edward, who has served as Patron of the British Paralympic Association since 2003, dressed warmly in official event merchandise for the occasion.

The event kicked off on Friday, March 6 and will run through this Sunday, March 15. Buckingham Palace posted the video to social media over the weekend.

The couple’s joint outing comes days after Edward was forced to withdraw due to illness from a ceremony and reception for the 2026 Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Education at St. James’s Palace, where he had been expected to appear alongside King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.