Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones split after 13 years of marriage

Two close confidants of the couple cited by magazine

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones earlier this year. They are said to have holidayed separately in recent times. Photograph: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones earlier this year. They are said to have holidayed separately in recent times. Photograph: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images

Hollywood couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have separated after almost 13 years of marriage, a spokeswoman for Zeta-Jones said yesterday.

“Catherine and Michael are taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage,” the spokeswoman said in a statement.

According to a report in US magazine People, Douglas and Zeta-Jones have in recent months holidayed separately, appeared at red-carpet events without the other and are ostensibly living apart.

The magazine cited two close confidants of the couple, with one quoted as saying, “They’re taking a break.” Neither star has filed for divorce nor moved toward a legal separation, it added.

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Douglas (68) and Zeta-Jones (43) married in 2000 and have two children. Both have struggled with health issues in recent years.

Zeta-Jones said in April she was seeking help for bipolar disorder, her second-known trip to a healthcare facility for the condition since 2011 when she sought treatment for what aides said was the stress of coping with Douglas’ advanced throat cancer diagnosis in 2010 and subsequent treatment.

"The stress has taken a toll on their marriage," People quoted a friend as saying.

-(Reuters)