Celebrity Info
Model-turned-actress Rebecca Gayheart first rose to national fame as “The Noxzema Girl,” the fresh-faced, all-American spokesmodel for the iconic skincare brand. With her radiant beauty, clear complexion, and signature cascade of curly hair, Rebecca Gayheart quickly became a household name in the world of advertising. But as many know, Rebecca Gayheart wasn’t content to stay solely in front of the camera for commercial spots—she had bigger dreams. So, in the mid-90s, Rebecca Gayheart made the bold move from modeling to acting, following a path trodden by many aspiring stars before her.
Like so many young actresses, Rebecca Gayheart began her on-screen journey in daytime television. She landed a standout role in 1993 as Hannah Mayberry on the ABC soap opera Loving—a character who was equal parts seductive and disturbed. Hannah stalked professors with eerie precision, making Rebecca Gayheart one of the most talked-about figures during the show’s final seasons. And let’s not forget—Rebecca Gayheart’s Noxzema ads were still everywhere at the time, keeping her image fresh in the public eye.
This momentum helped propel Rebecca Gayheart into primetime, where she truly made her mark. In 1995, she joined the cast of Beverly Hills, 90210 as Toni Marchette, the long-lost love and eventual bride of Dylan McKay, played by Luke Perry. Fans adored Rebecca Gayheart’s portrayal of Toni—a warm, passionate woman whose life was tragically cut short just eight episodes after her arrival. Her death, orchestrated to allow Luke Perry an exit without killing off his beloved character, was one of the more dramatic turns in the series’ later years. Still, it cemented Rebecca Gayheart as a memorable presence, even in a brief arc.
As the new millennium dawned, Rebecca Gayheart seemed poised for even greater success. She appeared in popular teen horror films like Scream 2 (1997) and Urban Legend (1998), and snagged a recurring spot on the short-lived but buzzy WB drama Wasteland, created by Kevin Williamson of Scream fame. Everything was going well—until 2001, when a devastating personal tragedy changed everything.
That summer, Rebecca Gayheart was involved in a fatal accident. While driving in Los Angeles, she struck and killed nine-year-old Jorge Cruz Jr., who was crossing the street outside a crosswalk. Though other drivers had stopped to let the boy pass, Rebecca Gayheart reportedly swerved around them and turned into a left-turn lane, hitting Cruz. The child died the next day from internal injuries. The incident led to a wrongful death lawsuit from the family, and Rebecca Gayheart ultimately pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter. She received three years probation, lost her license for a year, paid $2,800 in fines, and committed to 750 hours of community service. Represented by high-profile attorney Harland Braun, her sentence was seen by some as lenient—adding to the public scrutiny.
To make matters worse, later that same year, Rebecca Gayheart was back in the news after flipping a rental car into two parked vehicles. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and no charges were filed—but the string of incidents took a toll on her career and reputation.
For a while, Rebecca Gayheart largely disappeared from the spotlight. But by the mid-2000s, things began to look up again. In 2004, she joined the cast of the critically acclaimed FX series Nip/Tuck, playing Rebecca Charles, a blind patient who becomes romantically involved with Dr. Christian Troy. The role showcased Rebecca Gayheart’s depth as an actress, and her performance was well-received. When the character returned in Season 4—now able to see—fans welcomed her back with enthusiasm.
On a personal note, 2004 brought even brighter news. Rebecca Gayheart married actor Eric Dane in a spontaneous Las Vegas ceremony after just nine months of dating. A taxi driver even served as Dane’s best man—proof of how impromptu the whole thing was. At the time, Dane was relatively unknown, but that soon changed when he shot to fame as Dr. Mark Sloan—aka “McSteamy”—on Grey’s Anatomy. Overnight, Rebecca Gayheart found herself in the tabloid limelight as “Mrs. McSteamy,” though she remained grounded and mostly out of the Hollywood frenzy.
Following her marriage, Rebecca Gayheart stepped back from acting. She made a few appearances, including TV movies like The Christmas Blessing (2005) and Scarlett (2006), and a small role in the Fox series Vanished (2006). Later, she took on minor film roles, such as in the comedy G.B.F. (2013) and the thriller Grey Lady (2017). But her heart wasn’t fully in Hollywood anymore.
Then, in February 2016, Eric Dane filed for divorce, ending their 12-year marriage. The split marked another chapter in Rebecca Gayheart’s life—one defined less by fame and more by resilience.
Born on August 12, 1971, in Kentucky, Rebecca Gayheart grew up as the daughter of a coal miner, proud of her mixed Irish, Italian, German, and Cherokee heritage. She moved to New York City at just 15, finishing her education at the Professional Children’s School. Trained at the Lee Strasberg Institute, Rebecca Gayheart always approached her craft with dedication—even when the road got rocky.
Through highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies, Rebecca Gayheart has remained a figure of quiet strength. From Noxzema commercials to prime-time dramas, from personal loss to public redemption, her story is one of perseverance—and a reminder that even under the brightest spotlight, life can take unexpected turns.
Rebecca Gayheart has been part of several films throughout her career, but one of her most well-received performances came in the 2013 movie GBF, which stands out as her highest-rated film to date. On the other hand, not all of Rebecca Gayheart’s projects received the same level of acclaim—her role in Shadow Hours (2000) is often regarded as her lowest-rated movie. While opinions can vary, these two films represent the extremes in Rebecca Gayheart’s filmography in terms of critical reception.
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