Eric McCormack and Janet Leigh Holden Call It Quits, File for Divorce After 26 Years of Marriage
Eric McCormack's long-term marriage comes to an end as Janet Leigh Holden McCormack files for divorce after 26 years together Discover the reasons behind their surprising split
Eric McCormack and Janet Leigh Holden. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation
Eric McCormack, 60, and his wife Janet Leigh Holden McCormack have decided to end their marriage. Janet filed for divorce in the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday, November 22, citing irreconcilable differences. The date of separation was not listed. TMZ was the first to report the split.
Janet requested Eric to pay both spousal support and her attorney fees in the court documents. She also asked that no support be awarded to Eric and wants an equal division of property. The divorce, which will not touch on custody details, comes after the pair welcomed their son Finnigan in July 2002. He is now 21 years old.
Eric and Janet married in 1999, five years after they first met while filming Lonesome Dove.
Eric McCormack met his wife, Janet Leigh Holden, in 1994 on the set of a TV series where she worked as an assistant director. In an interview with The Guardian in 2007, the actor shared that he had just come out of a relationship and was not considered trustworthy at the time. He had previously dated actresses, but Janet stood out to him because of her down-to-earth nature, including how she wore jeans and drove a pick-up truck. Initially, Janet was hesitant to pursue a relationship with an actor, knowing the challenges that come with it. However, Eric eventually won her over.
The Canadian couple, who both hold dual citizenship in Canada and the U.S., had to conceal their relationship because they worked together. "We kept our romance under wraps during the first season. I mean, we were just casually dating within the crew," he explained. "It was even more challenging for her, since she wasn't allowed to show any favoritism toward the actors."
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In April 2020, he posted a photo on Instagram from the early days, captioning it, "This is the first shot Janet & I took at the #LonesomeDove Season 1 Wrap Party, circa Dec ’94. Just so happens this was our ‘coming out’ party. No one on the show knew we’d been dating for months. And *today* is my wife’s birthday! Happy Birthday, @janetmccormack #gratitude."
The couple has kept a low profile, steering clear of the glamour of Hollywood. However, they were frequently seen at various red carpet events throughout the year. Janet and Eric were regular attendees at the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s annual Academy Awards viewing party in March. They were also spotted at the July opening night of Broadway’s The Cottage in New York City, where McCormack was featured, happily smiling.
