Why Alan and Catherine Ritchson's Separation After 20 Years Is Sparking Conversations
Reacher star Alan Ritchson and his wife, Catherine Ritchson, have called it quits after two decades of marriage. “After 20 years together, Cat and I have decided to end our marriage and continue alongside one another in a different way,” Alan, 43, and Catherine, 37, wrote in a joint statement shared via Instagram on Saturday, September 12, announcing their separation. “We grew up together, we built a life and a family together.” Alan and Catherine said “I do” in 2006 before going on to welcome three children together. “We are raising three incredible boys, who will always be the center of our world,” the now-exes continued in their statement. “Nothing can diminish what these years have meant to us — or the love and respect we will always share.”
They added, “The best gift we can give one another — and our boys — right now is friendship, grace and commitment to becoming the strongest coparents we can be. We also want to give each other room to grow into the people we are becoming.” The Hunger Games actor and Catherine further asked for privacy as their family adjusts to a new normal. “Change is hard enough without the whole world weighing in,” the pair stated. “We hope, especially for the sake of our boys, that you will allow our family to move through this chapter with privacy and compassion. Thank you for supporting us as we continue making the health and happiness of our family our priority.” Alan and Catherine were high school sweethearts, meeting in a shared ballet class in their shared Florida hometown.
“After the millionth time of us sitting next to each other, inches away, tying our shoes — so now it’s super awkward — I was like, ‘So I heard you ice skate,’” Alan told Men’s Health in February 2024. “She was like the sweetest thing in the world.” While Alan and Catherine briefly split after one year together, they eventually reconciled before tying the knot in 2006. As Alan pursued a career in Hollywood, Catherine was among his biggest cheerleaders. “I’m delighted that this weekend the world gets to see something I’ve known all along, through many years of being his scene partner on the other side of the audition tape: @alanritchson is a dynamic, powerhouse talent with the range of a Steinway grand piano,” she gushed via Instagram in February 2024, promoting his movie Ordinary Angels. “I implore you to see Ordinary Angels in theaters, to support original, uplifting storytelling!”