Alan and Catherine Ritchson Separate After 20 Years: Inside Their Promise to Keep Family First

Alan and Catherine Ritchson have called it quits after 20 years together, and the way they announced it says a lot about who they are. The two met as teenagers at a ballet class in Florida, him 17 and her 16, and married in May 2006. Together they raised three sons, Calem, Edan, and Amory, while Alan’s career took off from Blue Mountain State to his lead role in Reacher.

In a September 2026 statement, the couple said they’re ending their marriage but will continue alongside each other in a different way, describing friendship, grace, and a commitment to strong coparenting as the best gift they can give each other and their boys. Catherine has shared plenty of reflections on love and marriage over the years through her podcast The Road to Wisdom and her Instagram series Not Newlyweds.

For a lot of families, that split decision is familiar territory. What stands out here is the tone. They’re not asking fans to pick a side. They’re asking for room to grow. If you’ve ever navigated a divorce with kids in the picture, what advice would you give to couples trying to keep the peace?