Zach Gilford divorce news just dropped, and it’s another longtime Hollywood couple calling it quits.
After 12 years of marriage, the Friday Night Lights alum has filed for divorce from actress Kiele Sanchez, his real-life and on-screen partner.
According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Gilford filed on Friday, April 18, citing “irreconcilable differences.” He’s reportedly seeking joint legal and physical custody of their two kids, Zeppelin, 7, and Revel, 4. As of now, neither Gilford nor Sanchez has commented publicly.
Fans might recognize the duo from Criminal Minds: Evolution, where they played a married couple. But behind the scenes, it wasn’t as easy as it looked. In a 2024 interview with Us Weekly, Gilford admitted that working on such dark material with his wife was emotionally rough. “I don’t want to hold a gun to my wife’s head,” he said, referring to the intense scenes. “It felt gross.”
Interestingly, the two didn’t even get cast on the show at the same time. Gilford was already on board when Sanchez got the offer out of the blue. “That’s weird,” she told him after seeing the role offer to play his wife. The showrunner later clarified they were keeping things professional and didn’t want to add pressure to the couple.
Their on-screen partnership goes way back. They first met on a 2010 TV pilot called The Matadors and later teamed up on Kingdom, The Purge: Anarchy, and even The Fall of the House of Usher, where Sanchez co-wrote an episode.
Gilford once said navigating set dynamics as a couple was like walking a tightrope. He shared how he’d often want to support Sanchez during creative discussions but knew she didn’t need the backup. “She’s a very strong woman,” he said.
Their relationship has always looked like a blend of love, respect, and creative synergy. That’s what makes the Zach Gilford divorce news feel all the more bittersweet. They weren’t just a Hollywood couple, they were creative collaborators, parents, and partners.
What do you think about the Zach Gilford divorce news?
