KEY POINT
- Alan and Catherine Ritchson said they have decided to end their marriage after 20 years together.
- The couple first met as teenagers before reconnecting in their 20s and marrying in 2006.
- They asked the public for privacy and compassion, particularly for the sake of their boys.
Alan Ritchson and Catherine Ritchson have publicly confirmed that they are separating after two decades together. The 43-year-old actor shared the announcement in a statement on social media, describing the decision as a change in how the couple will move forward.
“After 20 years together, Cat and I have decided to end our marriage and continue alongside one another in a different way,” Ritchson said in the statement.
The couple also addressed the attention that can accompany a highly publicized personal change. They asked people to give their family space as they work through the separation, specifically requesting privacy and compassion for their children.
“Change is hard enough without the whole world weighing in,” the statement said. The couple added that they hoped their family could move through the new chapter privately, particularly for the sake of their boys.
Ritchson and Catherine’s relationship began when they were teenagers. According to the provided information, Ritchson was 17 when he met Catherine, who was 16, during a ballet class.
Their teenage relationship was brief, but the two later reconnected in their 20s. They eventually married in 2006, beginning a marriage that would last two decades before their latest announcement.
The timeline offers context for the length of their relationship, which extended from their teenage years through marriage and family life.
Throughout their marriage, Ritchson publicly credited Catherine with helping him through the challenges connected to his career. In a 2023 anniversary tribute, he praised her resilience, patience, love, compassion and forgiveness.
Ritchson also expressed gratitude for the life they had built together, saying he was thankful that she had been part of his journey. His earlier comments provide a glimpse into how he had publicly described Catherine’s importance to him before the separation announcement.
The couple’s most recent public appearance mentioned in the provided source came in July. Ritchson and Catherine attended the New York premiere of Ritchson’s action thriller film, “Motor City,” alongside their children.
That appearance preceded their public announcement about the end of their marriage. No additional details about the circumstances behind the separation were provided in the statement cited by the source.
The couple’s request for privacy is a central part of their announcement. Rather than providing personal details about why their marriage is ending, they focused on moving forward and protecting their family from additional public pressure.
Their statement specifically referenced their boys, making clear that the family’s privacy is an important consideration as they adjust to the change.
Ritchson and Catherine said they intend to continue alongside one another in a different way following the end of their marriage. The provided statement does not outline further details about their personal arrangements or future plans.
For now, the couple’s public message centers on navigating the separation privately and asking others to approach the family with compassion.
