Janell Shirtcliff Biography: Age, Career, Director, Photographer & Eric Dane’s Partner

Janell Shirtcliff is an American filmmaker, photographer, music video director, and former model who has carved out a distinctive creative career spanning fashion, music, and film. From her early days as a model to her feature film directorial debut with the controversial Habit (2021), Shirtcliff has demonstrated versatility across multiple artistic disciplines. She gained wider public attention in 2025 as the partner of actor eric dane during his battle with ALS, standing by him until his death in February 2026.

Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Janell Shirtcliff was born on October 18, 1983 (or possibly 1982) in Mendocino County, California . While some sources indicate she was born and raised in Los Angeles, California , she has spent most of her life in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she currently resides . Details about her formal education are not publicly available, but her career trajectory suggests she developed her artistic skills through hands-on experience rather than traditional film school training.

Career Journey

Modeling Career (Approximately 2004–2014)

Before transitioning behind the camera, Shirtcliff worked as a professional model for approximately a decade . She posed for major brands including Levi’s and Urban Outfitters , building a portfolio that would later inform her work as a photographer and director. This experience in front of the camera gave her unique insight into the modeling and fashion industries.

Photography and Lonelydot (2011–Present)

Shirtcliff’s photography career began organically when she started shooting images for her online vintage clothing store, Lonelydot, which she founded in 2013 . The store sells curated vintage clothing and has become a successful e-commerce business.

Her photography style is characterized by surreal portraits, colorful aesthetic landscape shots, and modeling pictures with a distinctive vintage-inspired feel . She first began posting her photography to Instagram in September 2011 , gradually building a following and professional reputation.

Her photography has been featured in prestigious publications including:

• Variety (including a cover story with Phoebe Bridgers in March 2021)
• Billboard
• Nylon
• Teen Vogue
• LadyGunn
• WWW

She has photographed numerous celebrities including Phoebe Bridgers, Laverne Cox, jenna ortega, Alison Brie, and Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast (for the California Nights album cover) . Her Phoebe Bridgers Variety cover was named one of the 21 best Variety cover stories of 2021 .

Music Video Direction

Shirtcliff has directed music videos for several artists, establishing herself in the music industry visual space:

She also appeared as an actress in katy perry’s 2013 music video for “Unconditionally,” directed by Aya Tanimura .

Feature Film Direction

Habit (2021) – Directorial Debut

Shirtcliff made her feature film directorial debut with Habit, a crime thriller comedy that she also co-wrote with her childhood best friend Libby Mintz . The film stars Bella Thorne as a party girl from Corpus Christi (Shirtcliff’s hometown) who gets mixed up in a violent drug deal and finds a possible way out by masquerading as a nun . The cast includes Paris Jackson as Jesus, Gavin Rossdale as a drug dealer named Eric, and other notable actors .

The film generated significant controversy before its release. A petition to block the film’s release gathered nearly 300,000 signatures, with petitioners claiming the film was Christianophobic because Paris Jackson’s Jesus was portrayed as a lesbian—though the film’s promotional materials did not actually indicate this was the case . A second petition by One Million Moms gained over 70,000 signatures, calling the film “sacrilegious” .

Critically, the film was poorly received, earning a 6% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 16 critics . The Guardian‘s Leslie Felperin called it a “John Waters wannabe” . However, Gavin Rossdale praised Shirtcliff’s direction, saying they built a great rapport and calling her “incredible” with “that mixture of knowing exactly what she wants and being quite fluid with it” .

Despite the negative reception, Habit marked Shirtcliff’s entry into feature filmmaking and demonstrated her willingness to tackle provocative material.

Mother of the Dawn (2022) – Documentary Short

Shirtcliff directed the documentary short Mother of the Dawn, about Tia Neiva, the founder of Vale do Amanhecer (Valley of the Dawn), a spiritual community in Brazil . She discovered Neiva through a photo while browsing online and was inspired to tell her story . The documentary was written by Angie Simms and produced by Tommy Savas . It premiered at the Rollins Theatre in Austin, Texas, as part of the 2022 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival’s Documentary Shorts Competition .

Triton (Upcoming) – Fantasy Horror

In December 2023, Shirtcliff’s next major project was announced: Triton, a fantasy horror film . The film stars freya allan (The Witcher), Josh Whitehouse (Daisy Jones and the Six), Raff Law (son of Jude Law and Sadie Frost), Elsie Hewitt (Dave), Thalia Besson (daughter of Luc Besson), and musician Malcolm McRae .

The story centers on three young women vacationing in Greece who encounter three charismatic young men who prove to be much more than they seem . Shirtcliff co-wrote the film with Angie Simms, and principal photography took place in Athens, Greece in late 2023 . Raff Law confirmed he had finished filming in Greece by February 2024 .

The film is being produced by Brad Feinstein at Romulus Entertainment, with Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Range producing alongside Adonis Tountas and Everlast Pictures . Triton draws from Greek mythology—Triton was the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, often depicted as a merman—suggesting aquatic horror elements .

The Edge of Nowhere (Announced)

As of 2021, Shirtcliff was also set to direct The Edge of Nowhere, which was to feature Gavin Rossdale again . However, the current status of this project is unclear.

Acting Career

In addition to her work behind the camera, Shirtcliff has acted in several productions:

• Don Peyote (2014)
• Illusive Fields
• Dirty Old Town (2011) – alongside Billy Leroy; Variety‘s Andrew Barker praised her performance as the standout
• Katy Perry’s “Unconditionally” music video (2013)

Personal Life

Relationship with Eric Dane

Janell Shirtcliff’s personal life gained significant media attention in 2025 due to her relationship with actor Eric Dane, known for Grey’s Anatomy, Euphoria, and Charmed .

According to Entertainment Tonight, Shirtcliff and Dane had been in an on-and-off relationship for over three years (since approximately 2022) . They made their red carpet debut as a couple in June 2025 at the premiere of Dane’s show Countdown, walking hand-in-hand .

The relationship faced complications. In June 2025, it was reported that another woman, Priya Jain, claimed to be Dane’s girlfriend and was “blindsided” by his public appearance with Shirtcliff . However, Shirtcliff and Dane remained together.

Eric Dane was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. In June 2025, a source told Entertainment Tonight that “Eric asked Janell to be there for him during this time, and she wanted to show up for him” . She stood by him throughout his battle with the disease.

Eric Dane passed away on February 21, 2026, at age 53 . Shirtcliff was reportedly with him until his death, and their relationship was described as having continued until that point .

Previous Relationship

Before dating Dane, Shirtcliff was reportedly engaged to Sam Martin, the singer of the band Youngblood Hawke, in 2014 . The couple was seen together at The Holy Other: A Series Of Photos by jena malone opening reception in November 2014 . The timeline of their breakup is unclear.

Children

Shirtcliff is a mother of two children. She has a son named Bowie and a daughter whose name has not been publicly revealed . She keeps her children’s lives private and does not share extensive details about them publicly.

Residence and Lifestyle

Shirtcliff has lived in Corpus Christi, Texas, virtually her entire life . She maintains a ranch in Texas and operates a separate Instagram account called The Lonely Ranch documenting her rural lifestyle . She frequently posts about farm life, her animals, and her Texas home.

Despite her Texas base, Shirtcliff has strong connections to Los Angeles through her entertainment industry work and previously spent time there during her modeling career.

Controversies

Habit Film Controversy (2020–2021)

The primary controversy in Shirtcliff’s career surrounded her directorial debut Habit. The film faced backlash from conservative Christian groups who launched petitions (gathering nearly 300,000 and 70,000 signatures respectively) claiming the film was blasphemous and Christianophobic . The controversy centered on Paris Jackson’s portrayal of Jesus, with petitioners claiming the character was depicted as a lesbian—though this was not actually supported by the film’s promotional materials or plot .

The controversy generated significant media coverage in Variety, The Guardian, and other outlets, though the film’s eventual release was not blocked .

Eric Dane Relationship Complications (2025)

When Shirtcliff and Dane made their red carpet debut in June 2025, it was reported that another woman, Priya Jain, believed she was in a relationship with Dane and was unaware of his involvement with Shirtcliff . This created a brief media stir about the nature of Dane’s relationships, though Shirtcliff and Dane remained together.

Awards & Achievements

While Shirtcliff has not yet received major industry awards, her achievements include:

• SXSW Premiere: Mother of the Dawn premiered at the prestigious South by Southwest festival in 2022
• Major Publication Features: Photography featured in Variety, Billboard, Nylon, and Teen Vogue
• Celebrity Collaborations: Worked with Phoebe Bridgers, Laverne Cox, Jenna Ortega, Alison Brie, and major brands
• Feature Film Directorship: Successfully directed two feature films (Habit released, Triton in production)

Physical Statistics

Quotes

“The fact that I get to share this moment with one of my best friends that I grew up with is really special. There’s not that many people who get to have that.” — On co-writing Habit with childhood friend Libby Mintz

“She’s just incredible, and she has that mixture of knowing exactly what she wants and being quite fluid with it.” — Gavin Rossdale on working with Shirtcliff on Habit

“Dear friend, incredible father, fabulous chef, obviously amazing musician and the list goes on @gavinrossdale @bush.” — Shirtcliff’s Instagram post about Gavin Rossdale in 2025

Favorites

• Fashion: Vintage clothing (operates Lonelydot vintage store)
• Location: Corpus Christi, Texas; her Texas ranch
• Collaborators: Childhood best friend Libby Mintz (co-writer), Angie Simms (screenwriter), Gavin Rossdale (actor)
• Music Industry Connections: Has worked with various musicians including Phoebe Bridgers, Bethany Cosentino, The Band Perry
• Aesthetic: Surreal, colorful, vintage-inspired photography

Earnings & Net Worth

Janell Shirtcliff’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. However, her income sources include:

• Lonelydot vintage store (founded 2013, ongoing operation)
• Photography work for major publications and celebrity clients
• Film directing fees for Habit, Mother of the Dawn, and Triton
• Music video direction for various artists

Given her multi-faceted career spanning over a decade in modeling, photography, and film, her net worth is likely in the low to mid-six figures, though this is speculative without confirmed financial data.

Interesting Facts

• Shirtcliff got her start in photography by shooting images for her own vintage clothing business
• She co-wrote her first feature film Habit with her childhood best friend Libby Mintz
• She was previously engaged to Youngblood Hawke singer Sam Martin in 2014
• She has a son named Bowie and another child whose name she keeps private
• She runs a separate Instagram account called “The Lonely Ranch” documenting her Texas farm life
• She photographed Phoebe Bridgers for a Variety cover that was named one of the best covers of 2021
• She made her acting debut in Katy Perry’s “Unconditionally” music video
• She has lived in Corpus Christi, Texas virtually her entire life
• She was in an on-and-off relationship with Eric Dane for approximately three years before his death

Did You Know?

• Shirtcliff’s film Habit (2021) starred Paris Jackson as Jesus, which sparked petitions from Christian groups claiming the film was blasphemous
• Her upcoming film Triton was shot on location in Athens, Greece in late 2023
• She has worked with both children of famous actors: Raff Law (son of Jude Law) in Triton and Paris Jackson (daughter of Michael Jackson) in Habit
• She appeared as an actress in the film Dirty Old Town, which earned her praise from Variety
• She photographed the album cover for Best Coast’s California Nights

Social Media Links

• Instagram: @janellshirtcliff (Personal account)
• Instagram: @thelonelyranch (Ranch/farm account)
• Website: janellshirtcliff.com
• Business: lonelydot.com (Vintage clothing store)
• IMDb: Janell Shirtcliff on IMDb

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Janell Shirtcliff?
Janell Shirtcliff is an American filmmaker, photographer, music video director, and former model known for directing the 2021 film Habit, photographing for major publications like Variety and Billboard, and her relationship with actor Eric Dane .

What movies has Janell Shirtcliff directed?
Shirtcliff made her feature directorial debut with Habit (2021), directed the documentary short Mother of the Dawn (2022), and is currently working on the fantasy horror film Triton (upcoming) .

Was Janell Shirtcliff married to Eric Dane?
No, Shirtcliff and Eric Dane were in a relationship but not married. They had an on-and-off relationship for approximately three years, from around 2022 until his death in February 2026 .

Does Janell Shirtcliff have children?
Yes, Shirtcliff has two children: a son named Bowie and a daughter whose name has not been publicly revealed .

What is Lonelydot?
Lonelydot is Shirtcliff’s online vintage clothing store, which she founded in 2013. The store was the catalyst for her photography career, as she began shooting images for the website .

Where does Janell Shirtcliff live?
Shirtcliff resides in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she has lived virtually her entire life. She also maintains a ranch in Texas .

What is Triton about?
Triton is a fantasy horror film directed by Shirtcliff about three young women vacationing in Greece who encounter three charismatic young men who prove to be much more than they seem. The film stars Freya Allan, Josh Whitehouse, and Raff Law .

Conclusion

Janell Shirtcliff represents a modern creative professional who has successfully transitioned across multiple artistic disciplines—from model to photographer to film director. Her journey from shooting images for her vintage clothing store to directing feature films with major Hollywood stars demonstrates her entrepreneurial spirit and artistic evolution.

While her directorial debut Habit generated controversy, it established her as a filmmaker willing to tackle provocative material. Her upcoming film Triton suggests a continued trajectory in genre filmmaking with higher-profile talent.

Her personal life gained public attention through her relationship with Eric Dane, particularly during his battle with ALS. Standing by him until his death in February 2026, Shirtcliff demonstrated loyalty and commitment during a difficult time.

As she continues her work in film and photography from her base in Texas, Shirtcliff remains an intriguing figure in contemporary independent cinema—a director with a distinctive visual style, a knack for controversy, and the ability to attract notable talent to her projects.

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