Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver have separated after 25 years of marriage, the two announced on Monday in a statement.

"This has been a time of great personal and professional transition for each of us," Schwarzenegger and Shriver said according to the statement obtained by KABC-TV, OnTheRedCarpet.com's parent company. "After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion, and prayer, we came to this decision together. At this time, we are living apart, while we work on the future of our relationship."

"We are continuing to parent our four children together," the statement continued. "They are the light and the center of both of our lives. We consider this a private matter, and neither we nor any of our friends or family will have further comment."

The statement ended with, "We ask for compassion and respect from the media and the public."

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, have separated, with Shriver moving out of their Brentwood mansion 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 from The Times.

"This has been a time of great personal and professional transition for each of us," the statement read. "After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion and prayer, we came to this decision together. At this time, we are living apart while we work on the future of our relationship.

Photos: A political marriage with star power

"We are continuing to parent our four children together. They are the light and the center of both of our lives. We consider this a private matter and neither we nor any of our friends or family will have further comment. We ask for compassion and respect from the media and the public."

Over the years, the marriage between the international celebrity and the daughter of the Kennedy dynasty has come under close scrutiny, especially during the 2003 recall of Gov. Gray Davis, when The Times reported on Schwarzenegger's lengthy history of groping women. At the time, Shriver defended her husband, helping lift him to victory in the free-for-all contest.

Since Schwarzenegger left office, it had seemed as though the two were living separate lives. Shriver 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. She struggled with the death of her father, Sargent Shriver, in January, and took her son Patrick and some of his friends on an East Coast college tour in April.

Shriver, 55, spoke openly about the uncertainty she felt about moving on to the next phase of her life.

"It is so stressful to not know what you're doing next," Shriver said in a March 28 YouTube video to supporters. Though there was no intimation of a split, Shriver appeared without her wedding ring. "I'd like to hear from other people in transition," Shriver said. "How did you get through it? What were three things that enabled you to get through your transition?"

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.

"The whole industry has not come up with a new line of action heroes so [people say] let's go see the mature ones -- that's what I call them, the mature ones -- because there's nothing new around," Schwarzenegger said in the interview. "That's good news for me."

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.

Their marriage united Republican Schwarzenegger with Shriver, the daughter of the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

Their odd-couple political match was a source of endless interest to outsiders, and good-natured ribbing on the part of the couple, who often found themselves on opposites sides of political campaigns. In 2008, Shriver delivered a high-profile endorsement of Barack Obama on the eve of the California primary. Schwarzenegger backed the GOP nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain.

Schwarzenegger was immensely popular in his first year in office, animated by dramatic Hollywood-style campaigning. But he left office last January sobered by years of budget difficulties and suffering from a fractious relationship with legislators from both parties.

Shriver emerged as perhaps the most prominent and powerful first lady in California history, promoting volunteerism and assuming control of cultural institutions like the state history museum in Sacramento.

She also presided over the state's annual California Governor's Conference on Women and Families, turning the event into an affair that drew tens of thousands of women, a raft of celebrity attendees and a crowd of corporate sponsors.

Perhaps her most crucial role as political helpmate came in the waning days of the recall election, after The Times report on Schwarzenegger's behavior. At a rally in San Diego, the actor acknowledged before several hundred chanting supporters that, "Yes, I have behaved badly sometimes."

"Yes, it is true that I was on rowdy movie sets," he went on, "and I have done things that were not right, which I thought then was playful. But I now recognize that I have offended people. And to those people that I have offended, I want to say to them, I am deeply sorry about that, and I apologize."

Appearing alongside her husband later that day at a news conference, Shriver blunted the political impact of the story by vouching for Schwarzenegger, saying the sexual misconduct allegations "show why really good people don't want to go into politics anymore."

"I don't get into specifics," she told reporters. "As I say to my children, it always takes great courage to do -- stand before anybody and apologize," she said. "I think that's what Arnold did today. I think he handled it and his statement speaks for itself."

The two celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on April 26, a day they let pass without public comment, in contrast to their usual stream of commentary in various social media.

Their postings over the last few months offered a picture of a couple leading separate lives. Since Schwarzenegger left office, he has been jetting around the world, heading to Brazil's Xingu River with director James Cameron, to London for Mikhail Gorbachev's 80th birthday party, to Val d'Isère in France for skiing and to Washington, D.C., to attend a White House summit on immigration.

In late March, Schwarzenegger announced a collaboration with famed comic book creator Stan Lee, saying, "I have never had a conversation with Maria about any of this. I think it will be a big surprise."

Shriver mentioned the East Coast college tour and, in early April, visited the Bahamas while Schwarzenegger headed to Cannes to receive the Legion D'Honneur medal.

[Edited 5/9/11 21:19pm]

MAJOR BUMMER. Arnold is my hero.

RodeoSchro said:

MAJOR BUMMER. Arnold is my hero.

I've always loved me some Maria. Classy, intelligent broad. And I really liked them together. But hey they did their time I guess.

I was just thinking about this last week.
Just a random thought about why they were still married.

Their children are grown I think so. . . .

He reminded me of Jordan after he retired.

They aren't used to being at home.

RodeoSchro said:

MAJOR BUMMER. Arnold is my hero.

Didn't he admit to using steroids?

He's been dicking around on her for years

scriptgirl said:

He's been dicking around on her for years

Sources, young lady?

I will admit that while I'm sure they give a flying flapjack about what I think...I'm kinda mad. At this age, I thought they would've gone for restoration; I mean what do they want to do now? Maria wants to access her inner Sex in the City cougar diva? Arnold wants new hair plugs and a bachelor pad in Golden Beach? what?

uPtoWnNY said:

scriptgirl said:

Ottensen said:

I will admit that while I'm sure they give a flying flapjack about what I think...I'm kinda mad. At this age, I thought they would've gone for restoration; I mean what do they want to do now? Maria wants to access her inner Sex in the City cougar diva? Arnold wants new hair plugs and a bachelor pad in Golden Beach? what?

Right? After all that time? Don't nobody want ya'll old asses. Stay at home!

.

.

I'LL BE BACK......

.

.

After the birthers made such a stink about Obama being a US born citizen, I guess poor ol' Arnold can't get those darn citizenship laws/amendments changed to make his run for the presidency.

Funny thing isn't it? Well, that's a good reason to hang on to a Kennedy anyways....when you are running for office. Guess he isn't so he doesn't have to hold on to that marriage, he got what he needed.

Well Maria, I hope I am wrong... but you should have married a Democrat.

speculation/conjectures/and my lil'

Dang are you serious? After all this time? I know couples divorce after 20+ years of marriage but I'm just saying...it's Arnnnooolllddd and Maria. Oh well, guess it was a good run while it lasted.

SCNDLS said:

Ottensen said:

I will admit that while I'm sure they give a flying flapjack about what I think...I'm kinda mad. At this age, I thought they would've gone for restoration; I mean what do they want to do now? Maria wants to access her inner Sex in the City cougar diva? Arnold wants new hair plugs and a bachelor pad in Golden Beach? what?

Right? After all that time? Don't nobody want ya'll old asses. Stay at home!

Y'anno?? You just want to tell'em, "if you two don't go sit 'cho old vericose vein havin asses down somewhere... "

scriptgirl said:

He's been dicking around on her for years

I was just gonna say...

she is better off!!

Not knowing the details of their relationship, I have to say this really surprised me when I first saw it.

Another Terminator movie?

i just had to say something different

Somehow this doesn't surprise me, even though I've never heard anything about their personal life. I just think his stint as governor and it's outcome would have had a major impact on egos and whatnot. He was so confident in the beginning.

uPtoWnNY said:

RodeoSchro said:

MAJOR BUMMER. Arnold is my hero.

Didn't he admit to using steroids?

Yes, although he said he quit doing them after he decided they didn't make him any bigger than he could make himself.

I'd like to do steroids. Just for awhile, to see how big I could get. And by "big" I mean I'd like to go from 190 pounds to 205 - 215 pounds.

paintedlady said:

After the birthers made such a stink about Obama being a US born citizen, I guess poor ol' Arnold can't get those darn citizenship laws/amendments changed to make his run for the presidency.

Funny thing isn't it? Well, that's a good reason to hang on to a Kennedy anyways....when you are running for office. Guess he isn't so he doesn't have to hold on to that marriage, he got what he needed.

Well Maria, I hope I am wrong... but you should have married a Democrat.

speculation/conjectures/and my lil'

Arnold is much closer politically to the Democratic party than he is to the GOP. Much, much closer.

Let me put it this way: He's my favorite politician.

Not surprised.

RodeoSchro said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Didn't he admit to using steroids?

Yes, although he said he quit doing them after he decided they didn't make him any bigger than he could make himself.

I'd like to do steroids. Just for awhile, to see how big I could get. And by "big" I mean I'd like to go from 190 pounds to 205 - 215 pounds.

I've been tempted many times over the years. I'd be 240 easy. But it's cheating, and the health risk is too great. Look at all these wrestlers dropping dead in their 50s. Fuck that.

Steroids can make YOU big but your dick little I heard.

So no thanks.

uPtoWnNY said:

Serious said:

uPtoWnNY said:

I've been tempted many times over the years. I'd be 240 easy. But it's cheating, and the health risk is too great. Look at all these wrestlers dropping dead in their 50s. Fuck that.

I was always wondering if Schwarzenegger's heart problems were caused by steroids.

they definitely made his head look like a neanderthal

He's back on the prowl.

Shawnt27 said:

He's back on the prowl.

Big Pimpin in da house now

Shawnt27 said:

He's back on the prowl.

Chillin' and relaxin'... I imagine he'll hit the clubs sooner or later.

They've been separated! If you keep up with either California politics or California celebs you already knew that marriage was on it's last leg. Arnold's a ho anyway.

HotGritz said:

They've been separated! If you keep up with either California politics or California celebs you already knew that marriage was on it's last leg. Arnold's a ho anyway.

Hence why I said I wasn't surprised.