Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes Divorcing
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are divorcing after five years of marriage.
Cruise, 49, wed 33-year-old Holmes after a whirlwind romance in November 2006, including a headline-making moment on Oprah Winfrey's former television show where he jumped up on her couch while revealing their then-budding relationship.
The couple have a daughter, Suri, 6.
"This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family," Holmes' attorney, Jonathan Wolfe, said in a statement. "Katie's primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter's best interest."
Holmes reportedly went to New York to file the divorce paperwork -- without telling Cruise, who has been working on a film set in Iceland.
"I do find it interesting that she's doing it when he's gone," said attorney Jeffrey Lenkov, who explained that Holmes' decision is probably based on concerns for her daughter's upbringing.
"We know, at least from the press, what Scientology plays on his life. [Katie] is from a different world. Her father's a lawyer. She grew up in a very close family network. And she may have just said, 'I don't want this for my daughter anymore,' and that is partly the reason you see her asking for sole custody, rather than joint custody," Langkoff said.
The attorney said he believes the divorce proceedings will probably take place behind closed doors, especially given how careful Cruise has been in recent years in handling his publicity.
Divorce attorney Steve Mindel also said he believes the divorce will likely focus on who will get custody of their child and less on how they'll split their $275-million fortune.
"It's pretty clear that Holmes is asking for sole legal custody because she has a difference of opinion that's very strong from Tom Cruise. It's highly likely there's some split in their beliefs on religion," Mindel said.
Mindel said to not expect surprises on how their assets will be allocated.
"Here you could well expect that Tom Cruise's stuff is probably going to be Tom's, Katie's stuff is probably going to be his," Mindel said.
"Entertainment Tonight" correspondent Christina McLarty interviewed Cruise two weeks ago for a segment that would celebrate the actor's upcoming 50th birthday.
"When I asked him what his greatest achievement was in his 50 years of being here he said my marriage and my family," McLarty said.
Holmes was absent at the premiere of his latest film "Rock Of Ages" and also was not by his side when the "Mission Impossible" star was presented a prestigious icon award in New York City.
"The fact that she wasn't by his side at some of these major movie moments and career moments in the past few weeks you kind of start to wonder, OK, maybe there was trouble in paradise," McLarty said.
Following Holmes' public announcement, a representative for Tom Cruise released the following statement:
"Kate has filed for divorce and Tom is deeply saddened and is concentrating on his three children. Please allow them their privacy to work this out."
It was the first marriage for Holmes. Cruise was previously married to actresses Nicole Kidman and Mimi Rodgers.
The plan to divorce was first reported by People magazine.
