Meryl Streep, one of the most acclaimed and decorated actors of all time, has confirmed that she and her husband of 45 years, Don Gummer, have been separated for more than six years. The news was revealed by a representative for Streep in a statement to People magazine on Saturday.
Streep, 74, and Gummer, 76, a renowned sculptor, tied the knot in September 1978, less than a year after they met. They have four children together: Henry, Mamie, Grace, and Louisa, who are all involved in the arts. They also have five grandchildren.
The couple has been known for their low-key and private relationship, rarely giving interviews or discussing their personal lives in public. They have been spotted together at various events over the years, such as the Oscars, the Golden Globes, and the Princesa de Asturias Awards in Spain last week. Streep has also continued to wear her wedding ring, even after the separation.
The reason for their separation remains unclear, but some speculate that it may have been due to their busy and demanding careers, which often kept them apart for long periods of time. Streep has starred in dozens of films and TV shows since the late 1970s, earning 21 Oscar nominations and three wins. Gummer has created hundreds of sculptures and installations, exhibiting his work in museums and galleries around the world.
Despite their split, the pair remains amicable and supportive of each other. In a statement to Vanity Fair, a representative for Streep said: “Don Gummer and Meryl Streep have been separated for more than six years, and while they will always care for each other, they have chosen lives apart.”
Streep has also expressed her gratitude and admiration for Gummer in several occasions, such as in her Oscar acceptance speech for The Iron Lady in 2012, when she said: “First, I’m going to thank Don because when you thank your husband at the end of the speech they play him out with the music, and I want him to know that everything I value most in our lives, you’ve given me.”
Streep and Gummer’s marriage was one of the longest and most stable in Hollywood history. Their separation marks the end of an era for many fans and admirers of their work and their love.