Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner Heading for Divorce After 18 Years of Marriage
Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner are parting ways after 18 years. Baumgartner filed for divorce on Monday, May 1, according to People. Costner's representative said, "It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action. We ask that his, Christine's, and their children's privacy be respected as they navigate this difficult time." The couple shares three children: Cayden Wyatt, 15; Hayes Logan, 14; and Grace Avery, 12. The 49-year-old handbag designer, Baumgartner, will be asking for joint custody of the kids, according to a TMZ report.
Baumgartner filed for divorce on Monday ending their 18-year marriage, and while it is unclear what led to the split, she has cited the usual "irreconcilable differences" as the main reason. She is not asking for spousal support. Attorney Laura Wasser, also known as the "disso queen," filed a response on behalf of Costner, and it reads, "Spousal support to be payable to petitioner pursuant to the terms of the parties' Premarital Agreement," which means there is a prenup.
This was the My Bodyguard actor's second marriage. He was previously married to actress Cindy Silva in 1978, according to New York Post. Silva, who is now 66, and Costner had three children - Annie, now 39, Lily, 36, and Joe, 35 - before they divorced in 1994. Costner also shares a son, Liam, now 27, with actress Bridget Rooney, 61.
During an interview with People in November, Costner had spoken fondly of his wife. "My wife does things that just completely... It just helps," he said. "The house is prettier because of her. Everything is warmer because of her. There's these little things that she does and I think it's the power of love, but that she makes her home that way." The couple had wed in 2004 after dating for six years and Baumgartner was eager to start a family. The pair had first met on a golf course, and years later reconnected at a restaurant opening.
In another interview with Extra, the Yellowstone actor said that Baumgartner had given him an ultimatum at the beginning of their relationship: "'If you're going to be with me, you need to know that kids are at the end of the road for me with you, if that's going to happen.'" Costner confessed that it had taken him 6 years to get to a place where he was ready to have kids. Finally, there came a moment when they were about to break up. Costner said that he eventually decided that he wanted to work on the relationship: "I'm not going to lose her because I'm afraid."
Costner had praised their adorable relationship during the pandemic as well, saying, "Our partnership has really come into focus about what we do for each other and how we deal with our family. Our house is like a river: You've just got to get into the flow of it. And whatever you thought it was going to be, maybe it still can, but it's going to have to work with what the day brings."
