Sean Penn Separates From Robin Wright Penn

NEW YORK — Sean Penn and Robin Wright apparently tried to make it work but now, it seems their marriage might be over for good. Penn and his actress wife are separating after 13 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.

The double Oscar winner filed the petition on April 23 in Marin County Superior Court in San Rafael, Calif., according to court papers.

The couple married in April 1996. Penn has requested joint legal and physical custody of their 18-year-old daughter, Dylan Francis, and 15-year-old son, Hopper Jack.

This isn't the first indication of marital strife. The Penns filed for divorce in December 2007 but dismissed their petition several months later.

They attended the Academy Awards together in February. Penn, 48, won an Oscar for his role in the drama "Milk," and neglected to thank his wife in his acceptance speech.

Calls to the couple's representative, Mara Buxbaum, and Penn's lawyer, Mindy Lauren Ross, were not immediately returned.

A hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 21, according to the Marin County Superior Court Web site.

Penn met Wright on the set of the 1990 Irish mob movie "State of Grace." The famously brooding actor, who previously married and divorced first wife Madonna, seemed to find the yin to his yang in the luminous actress, whose serene demeanor tempered his macho swagger. Wright, who was married once before to former soap star Dane Witherspoon, has said Penn helped her gain confidence and stand up for herself.

Penn launched his acclaimed acting career as the stoned surfer dude Jeff Spicoli in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." His other, much heavier, roles include "Dead Man Walking," "21 Grams," "I Am Sam," "All the King's Men" and "Mystic River," for which he won a best actor Oscar in 2004.

Penn's second trophy came after he showed surprising warmth and humor as slain gay rights leader Harvey Milk. Despite his reputation as a serious actor, he recently agreed to play Larry in the Farrelly brothers' big-screen update of "The Three Stooges."

He has also directed several films, including 2007's "Into the Wild" and 1995's "The Crossing Guard," which co-starred Wright and Jack Nicholson.

Wright, 43, is best known for her role in "The Princess Bride" in 1987 and "Forrest Gump" in 1994 opposite Tom Hanks. Her other credits include "Beowulf," "Breaking and Entering" and the new Russell Crowe drama "State of Play."

Comments

[GreenDayJohn]

12:49 PM on 05/02/2009

hypocrite.­..i can't believe he has done this. Where are his values, compassion­, and morals? Oh wait, that's what you on the left call Mel Gibson. I forgot, the left has no values and morals...n­ihilistic.­..sorry

[NYed]

10:50 AM on 05/02/2009

She's getting too old, she's in her 40's. Too many miles on her. Trade her in.

[politics nerd]

08:29 AM on 05/02/2009

Robin isnt going to have any trouble finding a replacemen­t for sean. What a beauty! Im sure the line already stretches around the block...

[Craftyone]

07:32 PM on 05/01/2009

You know, both Sean and Robin are intelligen­t, sensitive and decent people with children they both love. They split, they reconciled to give it another shot and it didn't work. Try living your life under a public microscope and see how it goes for you. This is not our business.

[conniedogs]

07:16 PM on 05/01/2009

Once you go black, you can't go back!

[rob2007]

07:05 PM on 05/01/2009

Many posters are citing Penn's slight of his wife during the Academy Awards. I believe it was Sam Shepard years ago who also was accused of insensitiv­ity in not thanking partner Jessica Lange, prompting him to explain that their private life was independen­t of their profession­al life. That said, the body language of wife and husband upon Penn being announced winner in my view was pretty clear.

By the way, all you Penn detractors­, of whom I include myself, may be as impressed as I by his performanc­e in the documentar­y "This So-Called Life," which follows the behind scenes making of Shepard's play "The Late Henry Moss," co-starrin­g Nick Nolte, Woody Harrelson, Cheech Marin, James Gammon and Sheila Tousey. Strong stuff.

[MSMSucksCom]

05:18 PM on 05/01/2009

And by the way, for something as important as the Oscars I think it extremely poor form for Penn to treat his wife that way, no matter what was going on behind the scenes.

I mean, what's the cost to embrace her and then say "thank you to Robin for her years of support." Even if he did not mean it, not saying something is far more serious.

[Ohsherri]

05:39 PM on 05/01/2009

I know...tha­t was rude no matter what was going on in their relationsh­ip.

[MSMSucksCom]

05:14 PM on 05/01/2009

This was no surprise. At the Oscars Sean Penn went through his list of thank yous. I had to play the tape a few times to be sure, but noticibly absent was any thanks to his wife, who was present with him at the ceremony.

I said to myself back then that that indicated an impending separation­.

Was a shame to see that because when Penn was announced the winner he stood up. Robin was happy for him, tried to embrace Penn, but he brushed her off.

I was surprised no one commented on Penn's slight back when it happened.

[ObamaEdwards]

05:14 PM on 05/01/2009

Haven't they separated about ten times?

[carallen]

04:07 PM on 05/01/2009

Maybe he and Madonna can find each other again, she always said he was the love of her life.

[Glenn Manning]

04:26 PM on 05/01/2009

Madonna is the love of Madonna's life.

[GabrielXL]

07:17 PM on 05/01/2009

There's a maxim wherein it's suggested that to people in general, the best place they've ever been was the place they just left, and the best place they could ever imagine being is the place they're heading to. That's about how much credence I give to Madonna and the loves of her life.

[repugnicansfearme]

01:37 PM on 05/01/2009

Jenny needs to move back home to GREENBOW, ALABAMA!!!­!! She is hot, by the way.

[oldcliche]

04:56 PM on 05/01/2009

You mean Buttercup.

[ham4114]

01:33 PM on 05/01/2009

I wonder if he's going to move to Venezuela?

[Glenn Manning]

04:26 PM on 05/01/2009

LOL

[Fernando]

11:50 AM on 05/01/2009

I'm glad they are letting me know this, unlike Salma Hayek getting divorced which I never knew until she got married again. Ahhh, I like the feeling of feeling like a have a shot when a celebrity divorces.

[DenverJJ]

10:10 AM on 05/01/2009

OHHHH wow.. now she is fantastic!
DenverJJ

[washlib]

05:42 AM on 05/01/2009

i wish both of them the best of luck in their new lives. May they find their American (divorce) dream...

Many Americans marry for all the wrong reasons, and those that have loving, compatible mates, don't have the patience or ca hones to work through the bad times.