The couple, who married at a Cape Cod ceremony back in 1986, have four children.
FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2005 file photo, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger arrives with wife Maria Shriver for the 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. Schwarzenegger has announced, Monday, May 9, 2011 that he and Shriver, his wife of 25 years, are separating. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)LOS ANGELES - It was a storybook marriage in 1986 on a spring weekend on Cape Cod that united a princess of an American political dynasty, Maria Shriver, and the gap-toothed muscle-clad movie star famous enough to be known by one name, Arnold.
In many ways, it was a pairing of opposites: Her uncle was a United States president; his father was an Austrian policeman. She was the rising star of a network TV news show; he was the pot-puffing star of "Pumping Iron." He was a Republican with a soft spot for Richard Nixon; her family was a pillar in the nation's Democratic establishment.
Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Shriver announced their separation late Monday, cleaving a sometimes-turbulent 25-year relationship after "a time of great personal and professional transition for each of us," the couple said in a joint statement.
The breakup comes about four months after Schwarzenegger ended a bumpy, two-term run as California governor, a job his wife never wanted him to pursue. Since then, Schwarzenegger, 63, has been fashioning a role as an international advocate for green energy, giving speeches and lining up work in Hollywood. Shriver, 55, has guested-edited an edition of Oprah Winfrey's magazine but also talked about the stress of changing roles after serving as California's first lady.
The joint statement, issued by a spokesman for Schwarzenegger, said the two were working on the future of their relationship while living apart and they would continue to parent their four children together.
"After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion, and prayer, we came to this decision together," the statement said.