From an outsider’s perspective, Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner’s nearly two-decade-long marriage seemed like the epitome of a perfect union. Even the well-known actor himself was said to be taken aback upon discovering the reality. Continue reading to understand the reasons behind Christine Baumgartner’s decision to file for divorce after 18 years of marriage.
The 68-year-old actor, Kevin Costner, was apparently caught off guard when his 18-year marriage to Christine Baumgartner, 49, came to an end. Baumgartner desired more time together at their Santa Barbara home as a family, and it seems that Costner’s frequent absence was a source of pain for her.
A source stated, ‘While Kevin is filming, he’s not around much. His absence has really taken a toll on her.’
Another insider mentioned that although Costner was aware his wife was unhappy in their marriage, he was still surprised by her choice to file for divorce.
With the immense success of “Yellowstone,” Costner’s career has experienced a resurgence. Additionally, he’s set to begin directing the Western epic, “Horizon.”
His wife apparently had concerns about his availability given his current workload and upcoming project.
“According to a source, Christine didn’t want him to immerse himself in yet another project. He’s been deeply focused on filming ‘Horizon’ since last year, and she wasn’t pleased about it,” the insider reported.
“There have been times when his career took precedence over his family life,” another source added.
The source explained that he “hasn’t been home much for quite a while due to filming, the immense popularity of ‘Yellowstone,’ and the time demands of his other projects. He’s been in high demand.”
“All of this success and the excitement surrounding the new project likely diverted his attention from his family more than he realized. Since it didn’t seem like that would change and might even intensify, it caused strain at home,” the source concluded.
The couple had been married since 2004. Christine cited ‘irreconcilable disagreements’ as the reason for filing for divorce. They have three children together: Cayden, Hayes, and Grace, all of whom are minors.
This isn’t Kevin Costner’s first marriage. His initial marriage to Cindy Silva lasted from 1978 to 1994, and they have three adult children: Joe, Lily, and Annie. Additionally, Costner and Bridget Rooney have a son named Liam, who was born during his first divorce.
Reports indicate that the actor has been in Utah, working on his upcoming film, “Horizon,” which marks his return to directing after over two decades since his 2003 feature, “Open Range.”
Before committing to direct in Utah, the actor was heavily involved in filming his popular TV series, “Yellowstone,” in Montana. Paramount announced last week that the show will conclude after the current season.
There have been rumors that Christine threatened to end her relationship with Costner if he didn’t quit the program last year.
On Tuesday, Costner filed his response to the divorce, requesting joint custody of their three children. The couple began dating seriously in 2000 when Baumgartner was working as a model and fashion designer. They tied the knot at Costner’s estate in Aspen, Colorado, in 2004.
Kevin Costner’s representative issued a statement, saying, “It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have led to Mr. Costner having to go through a divorce.”
The statement also urged for Kevin, Christine, and their children’s privacy to be respected during this challenging period.
It’s been reported that Baumgartner hasn’t asked for spousal support. Laura Wasser, on behalf of Costner, has filed his response. Wasser also mentioned, “Spousal support to be payable to petitioner pursuant to the terms of the parties’ Premarital Agreement.” This suggests that they had a prenuptial agreement in place.
Their case is scheduled for a hearing in July.
Costner has been married before. He tied the knot with Cindy Silva from 1978 to 1994. They first met as young adults while both were students at California State University, Fullerton.
Reports suggest that Silva played a significant role in supporting Costner during his early days as an aspiring actor. She took on various jobs, like portraying Snow White at Disneyland, to help him pursue his dreams.
The couple had three children together. Their marriage faced challenges when there were allegations of Costner having an affair with renowned hula dancer Michele Amaral while filming his high-budget film “Waterworld” in Hawaii. This led to their eventual divorce.
Costner has consistently denied any affair with Amaral, and in an interview, he expressed his frustration, saying, “This woman has done nothing wrong and yet has had to share the harsh light of celebrity with me. I feel embarrassed, and I don’t think there’s one thing I can do to make her life better.”
This is undoubtedly a difficult time for the Costner family. Our thoughts are with them as they navigate through this challenging phase of their lives. If you want to keep updated on the actor’s latest news, feel free to share this with other fans of his work.
