Dec 14, 2010 08:01 GMT  ·  By
Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter are getting a divorce after nearly 2 years of marriage
   Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter are getting a divorce after nearly 2 years of marriage

They play onscreen (foster) brother and sister but, in real life, they were a couple until a short while ago. “Dexter’s” Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter have filed divorce papers, their rep confirms.

Carpenter famously stood by Hall’s side when he was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, and has always spoken highly of him, saying he was the best she could have asked for.

While the causes of the separation are unknown, word has it the split is amicable – though it does raise some questions about how this will change their relationship in Showtime’s immensely popular television show.

Publicists for the couple have confirmed for Entertainment Weekly that the two are getting a divorce, refusing to elaborate more on the issue.

“Having been separated for some time, Jennifer Carpenter and Michael C. Hall have filed for divorce,” reads the statement from the reps.

“Both reps add that the split was amicable. The couple — who met on the set of the Showtime drama, in which she plays his foster sister — married on December 31, 2008. Hall completed treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma earlier this year,” EW points out.

Even though the two stars are going out of their way to make it clear that there’s no bad blood between them, unnamed sources are singing a different story.

Word in the blogosphere has it that shooting for season 5 – which wrapped up the other day to record ratings, the highest ever recorded by “Dexter” – was made very difficult by their constant fighting on set.

Admittedly, Carpenter has been telling people about their marital problems, which has made many wonder about how they will handle the next season, given they’re so close on the show as Deb and Dexter Morgan.

On the other hand, so far, these two have been nothing but consummate professionals: as fans must remember, Hall made the cancer announcement after season 4 of the show ended because, he said, he didn’t want fans to be distracted from the grand finale by news of his illness.