The Earl of Devon is divorcing his former Baywatch star wife 18 years after their wedding at his ancestral castle outside Exeter, it was revealed today.
Charles Courtenay, 48, has split from American AJ Langer, 49, citing ‘irreconcilable differences’ and the ‘wellbeing of their wonderful children’.
Ms Langer played Caroline Larkin in Baywatch as a 15-year-old and was also in 1990s teen drama hit My So-Called Life and The Winder Years. In later life she starred in a number of Hollywood movies including Escape from LA, starring Kurt Russell.
The Earl of Devon met his future wife at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. At the time she had no idea that the beaming British lawyer – who was on tour with an English rugby union club and wearing a kilt – was the heir to a spectacular 4,000-acre estate in the West Country.
They got married in 2005 at the 600-year-old Powderham Castle, near Exeter and went on to have two children. As part of the divorce, Courtenay has requested joint custody of Joscelyn, 16, and Jack, 14.
Charlie Courtenay, 19th Earl of Devon and member of the House of Lords, pictured with his wife, A.J. Langer, at Powderham Castle
Charles Courtenay is filing to end he and AJ Langer’s 18 year long marriage they had together
At first after getting married they lived in California so Langer could continue her Hollywood acting career. pictured on the set of ‘The Americans’ in 2012
A statement on behalf of the Earl said: ‘After much care and consideration, Charles Courtenay, the Earl of Devon, and Countess of Devon, Allison Joy Courtenay, have made the decision to separate and to divorce.
‘Charlie would like to express his gratitude for his partnership with AJ and all that they have created together as parents, friends and partners both in Los Angeles and at Powderham.
‘The wellbeing of their wonderful children is the highest priority, as he and AJ focus upon co-parenting in the years ahead.
‘Charlie is grateful for their supportive communities in Devon and in California, and he politely requests that his and his family’s privacy is respected at this time.’
Details of the divorce filing were first reported by the Blast website.
AJ Langer on the right in the Meet The Deedles, a 1998 comedy which also starred Paul Walker
As part of the divorce, Courtenay has requested joint custody of the couple’s children Joscelyn, 16, and Jack, 14
Information in the application said they couple had actually separated over a month ago on September 30.
They had met at a Las Vegas party in 2002 and had no idea who the other was.
The earl was an intellectual property barrister but they fell in love as soon as their eyes met.
At first after getting married they lived in California so Langer could continue her Hollywood acting career.
But they later moved to the UK to live, a change she hinted to a podcast had been challenging.
Speak to the Celebrity Catch Up show, Langer said: ‘I was a completely independent person from the age of 15.
‘I lived alone for many years and travelled alone a lot and always went to the beat of my own drum.
‘Then here I was in the middle of really intense and very, very deep-rooted patriarchy.
‘It has been really fascinating.’
