Meryl Streep, a name synonymous with acting excellence, has captivated audiences worldwide with her unparalleled talent and versatility. Her illustrious career, characterized by numerous awards, including three Academy Awards, has made her a household name.

While the world has watched her on the silver screen for decades, her personal life has been comparatively private. On October 20, 2023, it was revealed that Streep and Gummer had divorced almost six years before.

“Don Gummer and Meryl Streep have been separated for more than six years,” a spokesperson for the actress told Page Six. “While they will always care for each other, they have chosen lives apart.”

Continue reading to know more!

Why Did Meryl Streep and Don Gummer Separate?

At the time of writing, it appears that Streep and Gummer’s divorce has not been tied to any reports of adultery or conflict during their marriage. That doesn’t mean there weren’t any warning flags leading up to their breakup. However, at this time, we do not know what is the possible reason for their separation.

The couple has four children: musician Henry (born in 1979), actress Mamie (born in 1983), Grace (born in 1986), and model Louisa (born in 1991). They formerly shared a home in Connecticut.

They kept their marriage mostly private, but Don, who was born in Kentucky, attended the actress to several Red Carpet events.

Meryl told Vogue Magazine in 2002 that the secret to their marriage was “goodwill and willingness to bend — and to shut up every once in a while.”

“There’s no road map for raising a family: it’s always an enormous negotiation,” she continued. “However, I have a holistic need to work and to have strong love ties in my life.” “I can’t imagine eschewing one for the other.”

Meanwhile, Meryl’s first of many award wins occurred in 1978, when she received a Primetime Emmy Award for her major part in the television mini-series Holocaust.

She won her first Oscar nomination for The Deer Hunter the following year. She went on to play a variety of parts, several of which earned her major award nominations and victories.

Among her notable performances are Sophie’s Choice, Death Becomes Her, The Devil Wears Prada, Doubt, and The Iron Lady.

“There’s no road map on how to raise a family; it’s always an enormous negotiation,” she remarked at the time. But I have a comprehensive desire to work and to have strong love relationships in my life. “I can’t imagine giving up one for the other.”

How Did Meryl Streep Meet Don Gummer?

Their paths first crossed during a deeply poignant period in Meryl Streep’s life. It was March 1978, and she was grappling with the profound loss of her boyfriend, the acclaimed actor John Cazale, known for his role in The Godfather. During this challenging time, Don Gummer, who was accompanying Streep’s brother, extended a helping hand, assisting her in relocating from the apartment she had once shared with Cazale.

Their romantic journey began, and the pair spent two years together, even sharing the screen in the film The Deer Hunter. Gummer entered Streep’s life during her period of mourning, a poignant detail recounted in Michael Schulman’s biography, “Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep.”

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Initially, their connection was nurtured through heartfelt letters, and as fate would have it, Streep found herself residing in Gummer’s apartment while she was engrossed in filming Kramer vs. Kramer.

Six months after their initial meeting, in September 1978, they celebrated their love in a quiet ceremony at Streep’s parents’ home.