Reacher star Alan Ritchson and his wife Catherine Ritchson have announced they are separating after 20 years of marriage.

The 43-year-old actor and Catherine confirmed the end of their marriage in a joint Instagram statement on Saturday, September 12, saying they planned to remain in each other’s lives and focus on raising their three sons.

“After twenty years together, Cat and I have decided to end our marriage and continue alongside one another in a different way,” the post began.

“We grew up together. We built a life and a family together. And we are raising three incredible boys who will always be the center of our world,” their statement continued.

The couple share sons Calem, Edan and Amory.

They said “nothing can diminish” the two decades they had spent together or “the love and respect we will always share.”

“The best gift we can give one another — and our boys — right now is friendship, grace and a commitment to becoming the strongest co-parents we can be,” they wrote, adding, “We also want to give each other room to grow into the people we are becoming.”

The couple restricted comments on the Instagram announcement and appealed for privacy as their family adjusts to the separation.

They said “change is hard enough without the whole world weighing in” before asking people to show compassion, particularly for their children.

“We hope, especially for the sake of our boys, that you will allow our family to move through this chapter with privacy and compassion. Thanks for supporting us as we continue making the health and happiness of our family our priority,” the statement, signed “Cat and Alan”, concluded.

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The public announcement comes after TMZ reported, citing legal documents, that Alan had actually filed for divorce in December.

The outlet reported that “he actually filed for divorce in December” and that “the two reconciled back in March” before announcing their separation on Saturday.

Alan and Catherine’s relationship stretches back to their teenage years, with the pair first meeting while attending high school.

They later reconnected while Catherine was studying at the University of Florida and Alan was visiting Miami for a modelling shoot.

The couple married on May 12, 2006, and largely kept their relationship and family life away from the spotlight throughout Alan’s rise to fame.

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Just last year, Alan publicly celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary with a glowing Instagram tribute featuring footage of the couple on red carpets and spending time with their family.

“I’m the luckiest man alive. To be able to build the treasure that is our marriage and family is and always will be the greatest privilege and success of my life,” he wrote at the time.

“@catritchson you are wisdom personified. Strength incarnate. A tantalizing percolation of joy, adventure and love. The boys and I are so beyond blessed to be able to journey with and for you. Happy Mother’s Day/19th Wedding anniversary momma. You deserve to be revered and celebrated forever and always,” he added.

However, the actor did not publicly post a tribute marking the couple’s 20th wedding anniversary in May this year.

Catherine had also regularly supported her husband’s career, including celebrating the premiere of Reacher season three in 2025.

“It is SO GOOD! I am SO PROUD!” she wrote on Instagram at the time.

The separation brings an end to a marriage spanning two decades, with Alan and Catherine making clear their three sons will remain their priority as they move into a new chapter as co-parents.

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