My so-called life star AJ Langer and her husband Charles Courtenay are ending their marriage after nearly 20 years together.
In an official statement from Powderham Castle, Courtenay, who is the 19th Earl of Devon, confirmed his split from Langer, who played Rayanne in the 90s cult hit and is now a countess.
“After much care and consideration, Charles Courtenay, Earl of Devon, and Countess of Devon, Allison Joy Courtenay, have decided to separate and divorce,” the statement read. “Charlie would like to express his gratitude for his partnership with AJ and all they have created together as parents, friends and partners in Los Angeles and at Powderham. The welfare of their wonderful children is the highest priority as he and AJ focus on co-parenting for years to come.”
AJ Langer of ‘My So-Called Life’ has the best love-at-first-sight story you’ll ever hear
The statement continued: “Charlie is grateful for their support in the Devon and California communities, and politely requests that his privacy and that of his family be respected at this time.”
PEOPLE has reached out to representatives for Langer, 49.
Courtenay, 48, also filed for divorce from Langer in Los Angeles on Thursday, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.
In the filing (first reported by The Blast), he cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split. He listed the date of separation as September 30. He also requested joint custody of the couple’s two children: Joscelyn, 16, and Jack, 14.
AJ Langer, Charles Courtenay and their children Joscelyn and Jack photographed at home at Powderham Castle in Devon, UK on October 27, 2017.
Julian Broad/Getty
‘My So-Called Life’ star AJ Langer is now a countess living in a castle!
According to court documents, Courtenay did not itemize the couple’s personal or joint “assets and debts” at the time of the filing. He also requested that spousal support for Langer be determined at a later date.
In 2017, the beloved ’90s TV star told PEOPLE about meeting Courtenay, who came from Britain with his London Scots rugby team, during a bachelorette party in Las Vegas in 2002.
“We caught glances and smiled. The kilt was a novelty. A smile was all I needed,” Langer said.
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“We immediately took off like a house on fire,” added Courtenay. “We went out to a nightclub — they didn’t let me in because I was wearing a skirt! So we spent some time walking the streets and got to know each other very, very well.”
What she didn’t know about him at the time was that he was the heir to one of Britain’s greatest titles: Earl of Devon. As for him, Courtenay had never seen him My so-called life and she had no idea that she was famous.
The couple married in 2004 and called Powderham Castle in Devon, UK home during their marriage.
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