Brad Garrett's Secret Divorce

Apparently, a hit show wasn't the only thing "Everybody Loves Raymond" star Brad Garrett separated from last year. In a bombshell confession to USA Today, Emmy winner Brad Garrett revealed he has secretly divorced from his wife of 7 years, Jill Diven.

The 46 year old actor claims he and Diven worked together to ensure news of their split stayed under the radar. In fact, Garrett says he kept both his co-workers and his parents out of the loop. Despite the break, Garrett claims he and Diven are still on good terms, even referring to his ex as "an extraordinary woman" and "the greatest mom in the world."

They have two children, Max, 7, and Hope, 6.

"Our No. 1 focus is our kids and parenting," Garrett tells the paper. "We will always be friends because we will never be single parents. We will always be two parents."

Still, he says, "You can't stay together for the kids, because kids know everything. Sure, it's daunting to have Daddy move out, but when he's back two days later, and he gives Mom a hug, and everyone goes to lunch - that's what it's about."

Diven tells USA Today that she has "nothing but positive things to say about Brad. We both realized we're best friends, and we're always going to be best friends. People grow apart. We could do the 'he said-she said' thing, but that's not us."

08/17/06 UPDATE: No wonder the divorce remained a secret, Brad's real last name is Gerstenfeld.

Click here to see the divorce papers





Tags: Brad Garrett, BradGarrett

Reader Comments

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1. THANK GOD a celebrity that looks out for his kids. More power to them.

Posted at 12:06PM on Aug 15th 2006 by kathryn

2. I feel sad about this ... they seemed like a couple that would make it. However, celebrity or not, they are handling this so fantastic ... kudos to them both. Those children are certainly blessed.

Posted at 12:09PM on Aug 15th 2006 by Michele in Ohio

3. Finally, someone in hollywood actually acts like a human being. I'm sure paris will do something stupid today and bring us all back to reality. Maybe lohan has another "stalker" she make sure everyone knows about.

Posted at 12:09PM on Aug 15th 2006 by mlc31

4. How sad that their marriage didn't work out, but how refreshing that we only hear positive comments and not the usual trashing couples do when they are divorcing. These two are being good role models for their children and that is what it's all about.

Posted at 12:16PM on Aug 15th 2006 by RiverRat

5. too bad, so sad.... waaaaaa, another one bites the dust!

Posted at 12:17PM on Aug 15th 2006 by janet

6. I love Brad Garrett....he is an awesome actor!

Posted at 12:20PM on Aug 15th 2006 by Babee

7. How refreshing.... two adults who act like adults, and in Hollywood, of all places.

Posted at 12:32PM on Aug 15th 2006 by Donna

8. i love you raymonds brother

Posted at 12:57PM on Aug 15th 2006 by mishimon

9. A happy divorce!!!!!!!!!!!!!! amongst the celebs???????? what class, you go boy, and girl. Good to hear you remain friends. GOD has truly BLESSED you both.

Posted at 1:41PM on Aug 15th 2006 by Verline Townsend

10. While I applaud Brad for his effort to keep the split on the D.L., I shake my head at yet another celebrity marriage down the tubes. I mean, these things are going down all over the place as of late. Here's a solution: Don't get married and make babies unless you realize that marriage is a commitment, not a class you sign up for that you can drop later if it is lame or unsatisfactory. And then to make it seem all roses and sunbeams like "we all go out to lunch and life is beautiful again..." I don't mean to sound judgemental, but marriage is hard sometimes and you don't always get what you want or expect from your partner. I just don't even know why people go through with the ceremony and gifts and dancing and drinking...to just undo it 7 days or months or years down the road because you don't have the guts to stick it out and make it work.

Posted at 2:00PM on Aug 15th 2006 by Kel

11. I confess, I am lohan's stalker. There, now we can move on from her altogether.

Posted at 2:01PM on Aug 15th 2006 by Kel

12. If they REALLY cared about their kids and get along so fantastically, why didn't they work it out and stay together?

Posted at 2:30PM on Aug 15th 2006 by DJ

13. #12, kids are not stupid. You can try to work it out, then sometimes you just have to accept reality. It's better for children to grow up in a healthy house than just a house with 2 parents. My parents got divorced, and then stability entered my life. Sometimes divorce is necessary. These two people are just keeping it real.

Posted at 3:21PM on Aug 15th 2006 by kathryn

14. and the secret is on USA Today because he has a new show to promote...it could have stayed a secret much longer then. However, that said - keeping it quiet this long is pretty good. Much classier than fighting it out all over the media with those timely interviews "leaking" the dirt - ala Jennifer Aniston.

Posted at 3:46AM on Aug 16th 2006 by karen