Catherine Zeta-Jones Michael Douglas 2012 Shankbone 2.jpg — Photo: David Shankbone, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 (cropped, sureno.ai mark added)

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones: their marriage

Recent interviews have revived interest in the couple’s marriage, their brief 2013 separation and how they describe their relationship today.

TV, Film & CultureOctober 6, 20263 min readHow Sureno writes this

The short version

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones married in 2000 and briefly separated in 2013; Douglas says they are now in good shape. ¹²
In a recent interview, Douglas described the separation as mutual and said the couple had problems but that he loves Zeta-Jones. ²
Douglas has said he never gave up hope that they would reconcile. ¹
A separate report about Douglas’s memoir says he ended five other relationships when he and Zeta-Jones agreed to be exclusive. ³

Are Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones still married?

Yes. Douglas and Zeta-Jones married in 2000 and remain married, according to recent accounts. Douglas has described their relationship as being in good shape. ¹²

They have two children, Dylan and Carys. The couple marked their 25th wedding anniversary in 2025, according to the BBC report. ¹

Why are people talking about their marriage now?

New interviews and coverage of Douglas’s memoir have brought the couple back into the news. In an interview discussed by The Independent, Douglas pushed back on the idea that he had to “win her back,” saying the reconciliation was mutual. ²

The BBC also reported his reflections on the relationship, including his view that marriage takes work and that the couple are in good shape. ¹ These are Douglas’s descriptions; the sources do not provide a separate, detailed account from both spouses of their current private life.

What happened during their 2013 separation?

In August 2013, Zeta-Jones said they were taking time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage. The couple reportedly reconciled later that year. ²

Douglas has said he did not give up hope that they would reconcile. In his more recent comments, he called the split mutual and acknowledged that they had problems. ¹² The reports do not give a full account of what led to the separation or describe all the work involved in repairing the relationship.

What does the memoir story about other partners mean?

Page Six reports that Douglas’s memoir, One Helluva Ride, describes five relationships he had after separating from his first wife, Diandra Luker. According to that account, Zeta-Jones said she was not interested in dating him if he was also dating other people. Douglas says he then called the five women to end those relationships. ³

This detail helps explain one account of how Douglas and Zeta-Jones began dating exclusively. It does not, by itself, explain their later separation or prove what makes a marriage last. The report is based on Douglas’s memoir and should be read as his account. ³

What does their story mean for an ordinary reader?

It is a public example of a long relationship that included a separation and later reconciliation. But celebrity interviews and memoirs offer only selected accounts, not a complete view of a couple’s private life.

For readers, the reliable takeaway is limited: Douglas says the couple had difficulties, reunited, and are in good shape now. Their experience cannot tell another couple what choice to make or what will work for them. ¹²

What we don't know yet

The sources do not provide a detailed, shared account from both spouses of what caused the 2013 separation.
The reports do not describe the couple’s private relationship in detail beyond Douglas’s comments.
The memoir account of Douglas’s earlier relationships is presented through reporting on his book, not independent confirmation of every detail.

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Questions people ask

Did Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones divorce?

The sources describe a brief separation in 2013, not a divorce. They reportedly reconciled later that year, and Douglas has recently said their marriage is in good shape. ¹²

When did Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones get married?

They married in 2000. The BBC says they met in 1998 at the Deauville film festival before later marrying in New York. ¹

What did Michael Douglas say about the 2013 split?

Douglas said the separation was mutual and that the couple had problems. He also said he never gave up hope that they would reconcile. ¹²

How many children do Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have?

They have two children, Dylan and Carys. The BBC report identifies them as the couple’s son and daughter. ¹

Did Michael Douglas date other people before Catherine Zeta-Jones?

A report on Douglas’s memoir says that after separating from his first wife, he had relationships with five women. It says he ended those relationships when he and Zeta-Jones agreed to date exclusively. ³

Sources

Michael Douglas says marriage to Catherine Zeta-Jones 'in good shape' after 2013 split — BBC News
Michael Douglas opens up about Catherine Zeta-Jones split: ‘We had our problems’ — The Independent, 2026-10-05
Michael Douglas dumped staggering amount of partners before Catherine Zeta-Jones romance — Page Six, 2026-10-06

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