Who Is Dating Rebecca Gayheart? All You Need to Know About Hard Rock Co-Founder Peter Morton

Rebecca Gayheart has been romantically connected with businessman and restaurateur Peter Morton since 2023. While she remains legally married to actor Eric Dane, the couple has been living separately since 2018. They share two daughters, Billie Beatrice and Georgia Geraldine. In March 2025, Gayheart withdrew her divorce filing, shortly after Dane revealed his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Gayheart has described her relationship with Dane as amicable, emphasizing co-parenting and maintaining family bonds despite their separation.

Who Is Peter Morton?

Peter Morton, born in Chicago and raised in Los Angeles, attended the University of Denver, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He is best known as the co-founder of the Hard Rock Cafe, which he opened with Isaac Tigrett in London in 1971. Initially, the restaurant offered American cuisine, filling a market gap before chains like McDonald's and Burger King had established a presence in the city. The music-themed memorabilia that now defines the Hard Rock brand started when Eric Clapton contributed a guitar, followed by additions from other rock stars.

In 1996, Morton and his partners sold their Hard Rock Cafe shares for $410 million. He later opened the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in 1995, which he sold in 2006 for $770 million. Restaurant entrepreneurship runs in Morton's family: his father, Arnie Morton, co-founded Morton's Steakhouse, and his son Harry launched the Pink Taco restaurant chain in 1999.

Morton's Family and Previous Marriages

Morton has been married twice. His first marriage was to British model Paulene Stone from 1978 to 1986, with whom he had a son, Harry. In 1990, he married Tarlton Pauley Morton, and they had two children, Matthew and Grace. The couple divorced in 1997. Tragically, Tarlton passed away in 2017, and Harry died in 2019 due to a heart-related condition.

The Morton-Gayheart Relationship

Rebecca Gayheart and Peter Morton were first rumored to be dating in 2023 after being spotted at a dinner in Los Angeles. They have since been seen together at various public events, including a pre-Oscars dinner in March 2025. In December 2025, the couple was photographed leaving an Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills, sharing affectionate moments. Despite the public appearances, Gayheart describes her situation as super complicated, balancing her relationship with Morton and co-parenting with Dane.

Morton in Hollywood

Beyond his restaurant empire, Morton has played a role in the film industry. He helped finance Guy Ritchies breakthrough film, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, as well as Ritchies 2000 film Snatch. Morton is also the godfather to director Matthew Vaughn and co-executive produced Vaughns Stardust. Known for his direct approach, Morton has admitted to preferring story summaries over reading full scripts when deciding on projects.

Author: Zoe Harrison