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Courtney Ford and Brandon Routh, one of Hollywood’s popular couples, are splitting after more than 17 years of marriage. Ford best known for her roles on Dexter and in Parenthood has filed for divorce from Routh, the actor best known for playing Superman in Superman Returns.

The love story of Courtney Ford and Brandon Routh began in 2003, in a bowling alley. At the time, Routh worked as a bartender at Lucky Strike in Los Angeles, where he was introduced to Ford during her brother’s rehearsal dinner at the venue.

Their meeting came about serendipitously, so much so that Ford later in an interview with People magazine, joked that Routh had the rare opportunity of meeting her whole family on the same day he met her:

“He met my whole family the day he met me,” she said.

The couple started dating soon after and were together for three years before Routh proposed in 2006. The couple had a private ceremony with family and friends in November 2007 at the El Capitan Ranch in Santa Barbara. The couple had a son, Leo James, in the year 2012.

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Ford and Routh acted together on the hit show DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and according to Daily Mail, their real-life romance was reflected through their characters on screen.

As per TMZ, Courtney Ford filed for divorce from her husband Brandon Routh on January 8, 2025, listing “irreconcilable differences” as the cause of the separation. Ford filed for joint legal and physical custody of their 11-year-old son and is seeking spousal support, according to court documents.

Professional Accomplishments Courtney Ford and Brandon Routh Explored

Ford and Routh were both powerhouses in the entertainment industry. Ford, an Emmy winner, is known for her work on popular TV shows like Dexter (2009), Parenthood (2012), and True Blood (2011), where she brought life to the character of Portia Bellefleur.

Brandon Routh made his first appearance on television as a guest on the show Odd Man Out (1999), and Undressed (2000). Whereas Routh later gained fame for his role as the iconic Superman in the 2006 movie Superman Returns.

In addition to his work in superhero franchises, Routh appeared in movies such as Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010), and TV series like Chuck (2010).

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow featured Courtney Ford and Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer and Nora Darhk. This was the first and only time the couple had acted together.