Is Eric Dane gay? He shares many similarities with his gay character in Euphoria
Kevin Winter/Getty Images Eric Dane’s popularity has skyrocketed following his appearance as Cal Jacobs in HBO’s Euphoria. For a while in season 1, Jacobs appeared to be one of the few characters in Euphoria with control over their lives: Cal was well respected in society and ran a profitable business.
However, the series soon revealed Cal’s dark side: he would lure young men and women to dingy motel rooms for sex. Season 2 dives deeper into Cal’s story as we see him struggle to hide his homosexuality. Eric, as always, delivers masterful performances, including a nude scene in which he opens up to his family about his closeted sexual orientation.
Eric revealed that he shares several similarities with his gay character
Flashbacks in season 2 of Euphoria reveal that Cal was a star wrestler in high school. He and his friend Derek shared romantic feelings, but the times forced them to suppress those emotions and pursue heterosexual relationships.
After graduation, Cal and Derek shared a romantic moment at a gay bar. However, the following day, Jacobs’ girlfriend Marsha revealed she was pregnant, forcing him to adopt a closeted life.
Eric told Out Magazine that he didn’t have to do much research to play Cal’s character because he knows how it feels to lead a double life. He said:
“I know what it’s like to live a double life. The circumstances weren’t precisely the same, but it doesn’t matter. When you put up a facade, you’re putting up a facade, and when you’re being a certain way with certain people and another way with other people that transcends the specifics of the circumstances.”
Eric told Vanity Fair that the double life he lived had nothing to do with suppressed sexuality and a lot to do with drug and alcohol abuse. Therefore, Eric Dane is not gay.
“I don’t know what it’s like to be Cal, but I know what it’s like to live a double life,” Dane said. In 2011, Dane entered rehab for addiction to painkillers.
Dane is yet to finalize a divorce from his ex-wife Rebecca Gayheart
Steve Granitz/WireImage Dane and model Rebecca Gayheart married in 2004. They welcomed two daughters, Billie and Georgia, before their split in February 2018. The couple released a joint statement saying:
“After 14 years together we have decided that ending our marriage is the best decision for our family. We will continue our friendship and work as a team to co-parent our two beautiful girls as they are the most important thing in the world to us.”
Rebecca ruled out hope for reconciliation, but she’s yet to file the requisite documents to finalize the divorce. The court has warned the couple that it will dismiss the application if they fail to move forward.
In 2020, Dane told People that he regretted hurting his wife as he battled addiction. “We’ve all made mistakes,” he said. “My one regret is that I got the person I loved the most wrapped up in all that: Rebecca,” Dane said.
Eric has been linked to several women since the split, but he’s yet to confirm another relationship. “I honestly think I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be at this moment in time,” he said. “And I’m really happy.”
Dane told the publication that family is his main priority. “I never had a family, and now I do,” Dane said. “I know I’m a very lucky guy.”
