Meryl Streep and her husband, Don Gummer, have separated after 45 years of marriage, as reported by People. They separated six years ago, and on their 45th anniversary, they wanted to make it official.
Streep’s representative stated to People, “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 to live apart.
Even though the couple had separated, they have still been seen publicly together since the 2018 Oscars, where the 74-year-old actress wore her wedding band. They were also spotted “as recently as Friday at the 2023 Princesa de Asturias Awards in Spain,” according to People.
As per Page Six, “Streep and Gummer were first introduced by her brother, Harry, in 1978.” It is believed that she was dating John Cazale, who had passed away from lung cancer, and she was mourning his loss. Gummer, a sculptor from Louisville, Kentucky, revolutionized the field of sculpting by incorporating brass and stainless steel in the 1990s. People reported, “Once Streep met Gummer, the two had an instant connection. They married just six months later at her parents’ home.'” The outlet also adds, “Throughout the years, neither Streep nor Gummer have said much about their love life, but they have been photographed together on occasion.”
While Streep found success in acting, Gummer made a name for himself in the world of art. According to People, Don was a “student at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. He later received an MFA from Yale University, and his work has been featured in exhibitions around the world since the early 1970s.” Professionally successful, in 2002, Streep opened up about her relationship with Gummer to Vogue.
The reason their relationship lasted is because of “goodwill and willingness to compromise — and to listen occasionally. There’s no road map on how to raise a family: It’s always a massive negotiation. But I have a holistic need to work and to have deep ties of love in my life. I can’t imagine giving up one for the other.” Page Six reported that the couple shares four children:
- Henry Wolfe, 43 – Singer-Songwriter
- Mamie Gummer, 40 – Actress
- Grace Gummer, 37 – Actress
- Louisa Jacobson, 30 – Actress
They were raised in Connecticut’s historic town of Salisbury. According to Meryl, being a mother was the most challenging. In 1998, she told The Washington Post, “Mothering. Definitely. Acting — that’s praise, money, fulfillment. Mothering — they don’t even say, ‘Thank you.’ They don’t even clear the table unless you say, ‘Excuse me.’ Real life, there’s no comparison to acting. I can’t really call acting work since it’s secretly so fun. Even the difficult things; it’s satisfying to do the difficult things well.”
While the reasons for their divorce are unknown, it is evident that the couple shared a long journey together. In 2012, after winning the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in ‘The Iron Lady,’ she said, “First, I’m going to thank Don because when you thank your husband at the end of the speech, they play him off with the music, and I want him to know that everything I value most in our lives, you’ve given me.” They have always kept their lives private and away from the limelight.