Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner Split Over Schedule

Kevin Costner and wife Christine Baumgartner’s divorce was an “unpleasant surprise” for the actor that allegedly came as a result of his busy filming schedule, according to a new report from People. Baumgartner filed for divorce last week, People initially reported.

Costner’s representative said in a May 2 statement to the outlet, “It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action.” The rep added, “We ask that his, Christine’s, and their children’s privacy be respected as they navigate this difficult time.” Representatives for Costner did not respond to POPSUGAR’s request for comment. TMZ was the first to report the news.

According to People’s May 8 report, a source said, “Christine wants them to spend family time at their Santa Barbara home. During filming, Kevin is not around very much. His absence has been very hard for her.” Another insider told the outlet that Costner has let his career take “precedence over his home life” at times. That insider continued, “Kevin hasn’t been home very much for quite some time due to filming, the popularity of ‘Yellowstone,’ and the time necessary for his other projects. He has been in demand.”

Costner, 68, and Baumgartner, 49, wed in September 2004 after four years of dating. Their ceremony took place at Costner’s ranch outside Aspen. The couple share three children together: Cayden, 15, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 12. Costner has three children from his previous marriage to Cindy Silva — Annie, 38, Lily, 36, and Joe, 34 — and another son, 27-year-old Liam, with former girlfriend Bridget Rooney.

Earlier this year, Costner won a Golden Globe for best actor in a television drama for his work on “Yellowstone,” but he and Baumgartner did not attend the ceremony. He said in an Instagram video at the time that they were dealing with flooding outside their Santa Barbara home and wouldn’t be able to make it, but that they both had been “looking forward” to attending. “I know how bad Chris wanted to support me,” he said, adding that she had bought balloons to make the house more festive while they watched.

In recent months, Costner has been dogged by rumors that he’s been holding up production on the back half of “Yellowstone” season five and that he might exit the series. On May 3, shortly after news of Costner’s divorce broke, Entertainment Tonight reported that Costner will not return after season five. Costner and Paramount+ have yet to confirm the report and did not immediately respond to POPSUGAR’s request for comment. The second half of season five has yet to start filming, and it’s not clear how the writers’ strike might affect the season. On April 28, Deadline reported that Costner has started rolling cameras on the second installment of his film series “Horizon: An American Saga.”

Baumgartner is a handbag designer under the label Cat Bag Couture. She and Costner met while he was rehearsing for his 1996 film “Tin Cup.” They ran into each other again in 1998 and began dating soon after.