LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kevin Costner is struggling to cope with his split from his wife Christine Baumgartner and is "deeply saddened" by the situation, sources have revealed. On May 1, Baumgartner, 49, filed for divorce from the 'Yellowstone' star after nearly 19 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.
The couple tied the knot in 2004 and share three children together, sons Cayden, 16, and Hayes, 14, and daughter Grace, 12. It's worth noting that the 'Dances With Wolves' director also shares daughter daughters Annie, 39, and Lily, 36, and son Joe, 35, with ex-wife Cindy Silva and son Liam, 27, with ex Bridget Rooney.
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“He is apparently still trying to save his marriage,” a source spilled to Us Weekly of the Academy Award winner, 68. “Kevin loves his wife and children so this has been very hard on him. He is saying that this is his worst nightmare and he would do anything for his family.”
Earlier this year, Costner sang praises about his handbag designer wife as he revealed how she planned a Golden Globes viewing party for him when they were unable to attend the January ceremony due to flooding in Southern California. “Christine realized that my heart was a little bit low,” the actor gushed in an Instagram video posted in February, adding that his wife and children clapped for him at home when he won Best Actor in a Drama Series for 'Yellowstone'. The insider continued, “Everyone thought Kevin and his wife were super happy, so it’s all surprising. He truly loves her and is trying to get her back. He’s been blindsided by this.”
Amid struggles in his personal life, Costner faced significant changes in his professional career as well. The 'Field of Dreams' star notably led 'Yellowstone' as rancher John Dutton since the show's June 2018 premiere. However, Paramount Network recently confirmed that the cowboy drama will come to its logical conclusion in the second half of season 5 which airs later this year.
While new episodes were initially set to premiere this summer, production was delayed amid reports that Costner was not happy with the show's filming schedule. Those claims, however, were refuted by his lawyer Marty Singer in February. “The idea that Kevin was only willing to work one week on the second half of season 5 of Yellowstone is an absolute lie," Singer told Puck News. "It’s ridiculous — and anyone suggesting it shouldn’t be believed for one second. As everyone who knows anything about Kevin is well aware, he is incredibly passionate about the show and has always gone way above and beyond to ensure its success.”
Costner will definitely feature in the drama's final episode, but a source told Us Weekly that the show's production issues were also one of the reasons behind Costner and Baumgartner’s split. “Everything points to his schedule and the show’s delays as the straw that broke the camel’s back in their marriage,” the insider said. “He’s taking it very hard.”
Earlier this week, another insider told the outlet that Costner was a bit hesitant about accepting the role of John Dutton since it would distance him from his family for long periods of time. The 'Untouchables' star and Baumgartner are based in California, but 'Yellowstone' is filmed in Montana and Utah. “Kevin’s team even asked about the possibility of moving the show to California so he could film certain scenes,” dished the insider, insisting that the distance caused “a lot of problems” with Baumgartner. “It’s been a discussion through the years, but it never worked out. Kevin has been making a lot of effort to make it work for his family," they added.