Peter Facinelli and Jennie Garth Overcame the Pain from Their Divorce for the Sake of Their Children

Peter Facinelli's wife, Jennie Garth, was shocked when the actor came home one day and asked for a divorce. Both actors experienced difficulty moving on from their marriage but eventually took steps to heal for their children and future relationships.

After landing his most famous role as Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the "Twilight" franchise, Peter Facinelli's marriage began to suffer until it eventually ended in a divorce.

Starring as a vampire in the hit film wasn't Facinelli's first on-screen experience. Previously, Facinelli appeared in "The Prince of Love," "Touch Me," and "The Scorpion King."

It was even through his career that he met Jennie Garth while filming "An Unfinished Affair" in 1996. The couple would go on to have a love story that ended in heartbreak.

Peter Facinelli and Jennie Garth Seemed to Be a Perfect Couple

It didn't take long for Facinelli and Garth to fall in love while working together, and a year later, they welcomed their first child, Luca Bella Facinelli. However, they did not tie the knot just yet.

Facinelli and Garth continued to get to know each other and dated for five years until tying the knot on January 20, 2001, in Montecito, California. The beautiful wedding ceremony had their daughter walking down the aisle as their flower girl.

Over 210 guests witnessed the bride and groom exchange vows, including celebrities Tori Spelling, Jason Priestley, and Ian Ziering, among others.

Nearly two years after tying the knot, the couple welcomed another daughter, Lola Ray Facinelli. Facinelli and Garth waited a few more years before having another child, a daughter named Fiona Facinelli, born in 2006.

When Facinelli and Garth started having more kids, they decided that the actress would focus on becoming a mom while the actor furthered his career to support his family. Still, Garth would step out and support her husband during red-carpet events, such as the 2009 premiere of "New Moon."

Saving their marriage was not a battle lost without putting up a fight. According to the actress, she and Farcinelli spent days seeing therapists.

Similarly, Facinelli would be by his wife's side during important events, such as her run on "Dancing With the Stars" season five. Facinelli even ran to the stage to comfort Garth after she was eliminated from the competition.

While theirs seemed like the perfect marriage, things took a turn for the worse somewhere along the way. In 2012, the duo announced their separation.

Peter Facinelli and Jennie Garth's Split Sparked Rumors about Alleged Infidelity

At that time, the couple refused to comment on the details of their divorce. However, they did release a joint statement to the public, reading:

"While we have decided to end our marriage, we both share the same deep love and devotion to our children. We remain dedicated to raising our beautiful daughters together."

Since the couple kept mum on the reason behind their split, many began to speculate. One of the rumors suggested Facinelli had been unfaithful to his wife with a Canadian woman. Garth reportedly knew of her husband's affair, which happened after they drifted apart.

Meanwhile, another speculation was that Garth was resentful of her husband's success. An insider claimed that Garth grew jealous of her husband's career opportunities, especially after "Twilight."

Although the rumors were never confirmed, Garth later revealed through her memoir, "Deep Thoughts from a Hollywood Blonde," that she was a bit resentful. She felt she was always waiting for her husband, who was always filming in various locations, while she just stayed home.

Jennie Garth Was Devastated When Peter Facinelli Asked Her for a Divorce

Nevertheless, Garth was taken by surprise when her husband came home one day and told her he no longer wanted to be married. Facinelli also said going their separate ways would be best for them.

Saving their marriage was not a battle lost without putting up a fight. According to the actress, she and Facinelli spent days seeing therapists, but despite their challenges, she never entertained the idea of a divorce. "I understand, now, how frustrated he was at how unreachable I'd become," Garth said.

Garth was heartbroken to know that her spouse was no longer in love with her, but it was a choice he had already made. The couple's divorce happened in 2012.

It took a decade before Facinelli opened up about his marriage, revealing that one bad deed can end up being a habit until a couple starts to treat each other negatively. Without open communication, the habit lingers until one person becomes resentful.

Despite Their Difficult Past, Peter and Jennie Continue to Work Together for the Happiness of Their Daughters

The couple has since moved on with their lives and learned to forgive each other in the process. The couple, who shared custody of their three girls, did what was necessary to protect their daughters' peace.

According to Facinelli, parents going through a separation should know that their children need to see them happy.

"Anyone going through a breakup should know kids need to see mom and dad happy," Facinelli said. "As long as they know they're happy, they know they'll be okay." The duo successfully co-parent their children and equally spend time with the girls.

In 2020, Peter Facinelli got engaged to fellow actress Lily Anne Harrison, who he began dating in 2016. And it appears Facinelli's children and Harrison get along well as they were present during the proposal.