Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman were once one of Hollywood’s most recognizable couples.

They met in 1971, married in 1982 and raised three children together. But after decades of marriage, their relationship took an unexpected turn.

The couple separated, reconciled for a period, and later separated again.

Yet something unusual happened afterward.

They never divorced.

Instead of allowing their separation to erase everything they had built together, DeVito and Perlman maintained a close bond.

Perlman has spoken warmly about DeVito in interviews, explaining that despite living separate lives, they remain married and continue to have a strong relationship with each other and their family.

DeVito has expressed similar affection over the years.

Their story doesn’t fit neatly into the typical Hollywood breakup narrative. They may no longer live as a traditional married couple, but decades after first meeting, they remain connected through friendship, family and a remarkable amount of affection.

After more than half a century in each other’s lives, perhaps that’s the most surprising part of their story:

They separated — but they never really stopped being family.