Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas are going their separate ways after 18 years of marriage. According to TMZ, the actress filed for divorce from Banderas, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split.
In documents obtained by TMZ, Griffith, 56, asks for child support and sole physical and joint legal custody of the couple’s daughter, Stella, 17. She also asks for spousal support in the documents, which were filed by attorney to the stars Laura Wasser.
Married since 1996, the Working Girl star and Banderas, 53, have battled breakup rumors for years. And they’ve certainly had their share of ups and downs — most notably when Griffith went to rehab to be treated for an addiction to painkillers.
“We have had as many problems as anybody. We’ve never hidden it,” Banderas told AARP magazine in 2011. “We’ve been open about addictions, in the case of Melanie. She has overcome her problems beautifully. I didn’t know she was so strong. It makes me love her even more, because she has been an unbelievable lion fighting, and she got it. The last [relapse] was three years ago, and it just welded us.”
As part of the actress’ recovery, the couple and their kids went to family therapy. (Griffith also has two children from previous relationships.) “It was a very unique experience,” Banderas said. “It was very rewarding at the end.”
This will be Griffith’s fourth divorce. She was married twice before to Don Johnson, and also to Steve Bauer. Banderas was previously married, too, to Ana Leza.