Schwarzenegger, Shriver separate

LOS ANGELES – Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, have separated, with Shriver moving out of their mansion in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles while the two determine the next step in their 25-year marriage.

Shriver has been residing apart from the actor-turned-politician for the last few weeks. The former first couple confirmed the separation in a joint statement released Monday after questions were raised by the Los Angeles Times.

The couple met in 1977, when NBC’s Tom Brokaw introduced Shriver to Schwarzenegger at a charity tennis tournament. The two married in 1986, and have four children.

Since Schwarzenegger left office in January, it had seemed as though the two were living separate lives. Shriver, 55, has worked on her women’s empowerment website, guest edited an issue of Oprah Winfrey’s magazine and promoted causes near to her heart, such as Alzheimer’s research.

The former governor, 63, told a Times reporter in April that he yearned for a show business comeback. It was later announced that Schwarzenegger had signed on to star in three films, including another installment in the “Terminator” series.