Kevin Costner, one of America’s most popular Western TV actors, plays a character when he is in the film. He played everything from bodyguards to cowboys in great movies from the 1980s. Most recently, he played John Dutton on the hit show Yellowstone.
Behind the scenes, he is also a fan of music and the father of seven beautiful children. But Costner and his wife Christine Baumgartner have chosen to div0rce after 18 years of marriage. Kevin Costner’s wife has asked for a div0rce, which came as a surprise because people have been talking about how the star might be leaving Yellowstone.
His team told The Hollywood Reporter that the story was true. “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. We ask that his, Christine’s, and their children’s privacy be respected as they navigate this difficult time,” the message said.
If you turn the tape back to 2004, you’ll see that the star from Yellowstone married his wife in a cute Western ranch wedding. But getting married to Christine Baumgartner was just one point in a long love story between the two. Like in most Hollywood love stories, they barely met in 1996 before they started datin*g.
Baumgartner and Costner ran into each other again two years later at a restaurant. Both of them were single at the time. “We exchanged numbers, and I told her that I would – did she mind if I called her in two weeks,” Costner told PEOPLE in 2003. “I did not realize that was like an insult to a woman.” That pickup mistake by John Dutton might be one of the worst ones ever.
Here are some other things we know about Kevin Costner’s wife, like their kids, div0rce, and more.
Check out some of the other celebrity wife content we’ve published:
- Who is Anthony Davis’ Wife? Meet the Woman Behind His Successful Career
- Who is Pierce Brosnans Wife? When Did They Get Married Officially?
Who is Kevin Costner’s Wife?
Christine Baumgartner is a former model, business, and handbag designer. Cat Bag Couture, her brand, is sold online and in shops around Aspen.
She and Costner have been very helpful to each other in their lives. “I showed [some samples] to Kevin, and he said they were beautiful and amazing,” Baumgartner told the Denver Post in 2005. “He told me I should take it to the next step and he’d help me. I’ve always loved fashion and style, and if you can mix it with function, it’s perfect.”
Costner has mostly kept their friendship quiet. Their wedding in Aspen was just as quiet, except for how the bride and groom got there. Costner arrived at the ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage, and Baumgartner came shortly after in an old green pickup truck.
But the news of the split is getting a lot of attention, probably because fans are eager to know when Yellowstone will come back. Also, this is not Costner’s first div0rce. He was married to Cindy Silva from 1978 to 1994, so he has been through this before.
How Many Children Does Kevin Costner Have?
Kevin Costner is happy to be the father of three, no, four, no, seven kids. Last year, he told PEOPLE that being a father is one of his biggest joys, even though he didn’t expect to have so many. “I work as a provider,” he said. “When I’m not making a movie…I’m getting the kids to their stuff or I’m waiting for them to come out of a party. I’m just twiddling my thumbs. People have a wrong idea about how my life works.”
With his ex-wife Silva, the Yellowstone cowboy has three grown children: Annie, Lily, and Joe. He had a short relationship with Bridget Rooney in the mid-1990s, and they had a son, Liam, who is now an adult. As for the younger Baumgartner, that’s a different story. Costner told Extra that Baumgartner, who is 19 years younger than him, made it clear from the start that she wanted kids.
To Costner’s credit, he was “crushed” when he went through a split with his older children and was afraid of going through it again. “Finally, there came a moment where [I thought] maybe this doesn’t go forward,” Costner explained. He quickly realized that was no way to think about life. “I’m not going to lose her because I’m afraid.”
They have three kids: 15-year-old Cayden Wyatt, 14-year-old Hayes Logan, and 12-year-old Grace Avery.
