Alan Ritchson, the actor known for leading roles in Amazon’s Reacher and the upcoming film Runner, announced Saturday that he and his wife Catherine are divorcing after two decades of marriage.
“Cat and I have decided to end our marriage and continue alongside each other in a different way,” Ritchson, 43, wrote in a statement posted to Instagram. The announcement was reported by UPI.
The actor’s message emphasized the length and significance of their relationship, which began when both were young. “We grew up together. We built a life and family together. And we are raising three incredible boys who will always be the center of our world,” he wrote.
Ritchson added that “nothing can diminish what these years have meant to us — or the love and respect we will always share.”
The couple’s three sons have been a recurring presence in Ritchson’s public life as his career has surged in recent years. The pair were married for 20 years, according to the announcement.
Court Records Show Earlier Filing
Though Ritchson framed the news as a joint decision announced over the weekend, Page Six reported that court records indicate he actually filed for divorce from Catherine in December. The discrepancy between the public announcement and the legal timeline was first noted by the outlet.
The filing date suggests the couple’s separation process began months before the Instagram post, though neither Ritchson nor a representative has publicly addressed the gap between the two dates. It remains unclear whether the December filing was uncontested or what stage the proceedings have reached.
Ritchson has not elaborated further on the reasons for the split, and his statement avoided specifics about when the decision was made or what prompted it.
A Career on the Rise
The divorce announcement arrives as Ritchson’s professional profile continues to climb. He first gained attention in modeling and small television roles before breaking through as Thad Castle on the sports comedy Blue Mountain State. More recently, he has led the action series Reacher, based on Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels, which has become one of Amazon’s most-watched original series.
He is also set to star in Runner, an upcoming project that has further raised his visibility. The timing of the announcement, coming as he promotes new work, is not unusual for actors navigating personal news alongside professional obligations.
Representatives for Ritchson did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment beyond the Instagram statement.
A Rare Public Statement
Ritchson’s Instagram post struck a notably amicable tone, avoiding the language of conflict or grievance that sometimes accompanies high-profile splits. His phrasing — “continue alongside each other in a different way” — suggests the two intend to remain connected as co-parents, a priority he underscored by calling their sons “the center of our world.”
The couple married in 2005, when Ritchson was in his early twenties and before his acting career had taken off. Their relationship has spanned his transition from bit parts to leading-man status, a period during which Catherine largely stayed out of the spotlight. The two were photographed together at public events over the years, including a 2010 half-marathon in Los Angeles benefiting cancer charities.
Neither Ritchson nor Catherine has indicated what their post-divorce relationship will look like in practical terms, though the statement leaves open the possibility of a collaborative co-parenting arrangement. The actor’s emphasis on shared history and mutual respect suggests the split, while painful, has not been acrimonious in public view.
Fans of the actor reacted to the news across social media over the weekend, many expressing surprise given the length of the marriage and the couple’s relatively low-profile public presence. Ritchson has often spoken warmly about his family in interviews, making the announcement a notable departure from his usual privacy around personal matters.
As the divorce proceeds, the actor is expected to continue filming and promoting his various projects. Reacher has been renewed for additional seasons, and his film slate remains full. Whether the split will affect his public schedule has not been announced.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/09/13/reacher-runner-star-alan-ritchson-announces-divorce/