Actor Zach Gilford, famous for his portrayal of Matt Saracen on Friday Night Lights, and his wife, actress Kiele Sanchez, are ending their 12-year marriage.
On April 18, 2025, Gilford filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.” According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, the actor did not specify a date of separation.
In the filing, Gilford requested joint legal and physical custody of their two young children, Zeppelin, 7, and Revel, 4, and also checked a box indicating that he is seeking spousal support for Sanchez. At this time, representatives for both actors have not commented on the situation.
Gilford and Sanchez, both well-known in Hollywood, initially became public figures together after their 2012 marriage.
Their relationship, while relatively private, has seen its share of public moments, particularly through social media.
The couple occasionally shared glimpses of their life together, including candid photos and celebrations marking milestones like their 10th wedding anniversary in 2022.
In one post, Gilford affectionately thanked Sanchez for their shared experiences, calling her his partner in both love and life.
The couple, who worked together on the 2014 film The Purge: Anarchy and later reunited on Criminal Minds: Evolution, were also known for their strong personal bond, often celebrating their family life in public.
One notable instance of their shared joy was the announcement of the birth of their first child, Zeppelin Adele Gilford, in 2017.
The couple had experienced a painful late-term miscarriage in 2015, which was a significant part of their journey to parenthood.
In an emotional statement, they shared their grief over the loss and their joy in welcoming their daughter via surrogate.
Gilford and Sanchez’s relationship had always seemed to reflect a deep mutual respect and affection. Gilford once spoke publicly about his admiration for Sanchez’s strength as a mother.
In an interview in 2018, he revealed how watching Sanchez with their daughter had deeply affected him, describing her as a “mama lion” who would fiercely protect their child.
His words painted a picture of a couple who had truly found a deep connection with one another. Gilford expressed his love for his wife, calling her someone unlike anyone he had ever met, and emphasized how she had taught him how to love.
Throughout their marriage, the couple experienced both joyous moments and struggles.
After the devastating miscarriage, they found strength in each other, and in their shared desire to become parents.
In addition to their biological child, the couple also faced the challenges of raising their children in the public eye while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy and privacy for their family.
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Despite their fame, they were able to preserve a level of intimacy and personal space, particularly on Sanchez’s private Instagram account and Gilford’s more occasional social media updates.
Their divorce marks a turning point in their relationship, which had spanned over a decade both on-screen and off-screen.
The news has come as a shock to many of their fans, as the couple had always presented a united front.
In the filing, Gilford expressed his desire for joint custody, ensuring that both parents would remain actively involved in their children’s lives.
Gilford and Sanchez’s split also comes amid their busy careers. In addition to Criminal Minds: Evolution, where Sanchez played a recurring role alongside her husband, Gilford had recently been in the public eye for his role in a variety of projects.
Despite their separation, it appears the two will continue to prioritize their children’s well-being, as evidenced by their agreement to co-parent.
While the future of their personal relationship remains uncertain, the couple’s decision to separate has been a significant life event, both for them and their fans.
As they navigate this new chapter, both Gilford and Sanchez will likely continue to share their respective journeys, individually and as co-parents.
The announcement of their divorce, after more than a decade of marriage, has sparked speculation about the reasons behind their split.
However, given their history of privacy, it is unlikely that the details of their separation will be fully disclosed.
Ultimately, Gilford and Sanchez’s divorce serves as a reminder of the complexities of relationships, especially for public figures who must balance the challenges of fame, personal loss, and family life.
As both continue their respective careers and personal lives, it will be interesting to see how their separation impacts their future endeavors and their continued co-parenting journey.
