Cheryl Hines Divorce: What Really Happened With Her Marriage

Cheryl Hines Divorce: What Really Happened With Her Marriage

When you see Cheryl Hines on screen, you probably think of the dry, eye-rolling wife of Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm. She’s the queen of the "I can't believe I'm married to this guy" look. But lately, life has been imitating art in a way that’s way less funny and a lot more complicated. People have been Googling cheryl hines divorce like crazy, and honestly, can you blame them?

Between the political firestorms, the sexting scandals involving high-profile journalists, and the move to Washington D.C., the rumors have been flying. It’s a lot for anyone to deal with, let alone someone who spent years in a "Hollywood bubble."

The Truth About the Current Status

So, let's get the big question out of the way: Did she actually file? As of January 2026, Cheryl Hines and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are still married. Despite the headlines that looked like they were moments away from a courthouse, the two are living together in a Georgetown townhouse that Bobby bought for about $4.4 million last year.

It hasn’t been a smooth ride, though. Far from it.

Hines recently released a memoir called Unscripted where she basically lays it all out. She admits that things got so bad during the 2024 campaign that Bobby actually suggested they fake a separation. He saw how much hate she was getting for his political shift toward Donald Trump and his views on vaccines. He thought if they "split up" on paper, the vitriol toward her would stop.

Cheryl’s response? She said no. She thought it was a sweet gesture in a weird way, but she knew the paparazzi would catch them having dinner two days later and it would be a PR nightmare. Instead of faking a split, she says they actually got closer.

The Olivia Nuzzi Scandal

You can't talk about the cheryl hines divorce rumors without talking about Olivia Nuzzi. That was the "hit a wall" moment for Cheryl. Back in late 2024, news broke that Nuzzi, a reporter for New York magazine, had an "emotional affair" with RFK Jr. while she was supposed to be covering his campaign.

There were reports of "raunchy" texts and a relationship that, while apparently not physical, was definitely a betrayal. For a while, Cheryl went radio silent. Her friends in Hollywood—including some big names who have since stopped talking to her—were reportedly whispering that this was the final straw.

In her book, Cheryl admits she "hated all of it." She describes "soul-searching days" where they had to go through every detail of what happened. It sounds like she put him through the ringer. But according to her, they "tightened the ties that bind" rather than cutting them.

Looking Back: Her First Divorce

Sometimes people forget that Cheryl has been down the divorce road before. She was married to Paul Young, a founder of a management firm, from 2002 to 2010. They have a daughter, Catherine Rose.

That divorce was actually pretty quiet by Hollywood standards. No major scandals, no public mud-slinging. They filed for irreconcilable differences, and to this day, they seem to co-parent pretty well. It’s a sharp contrast to the circus she’s living in now.

When you compare the two situations, you see why people keep expecting a cheryl hines divorce announcement. Her first marriage ended over what seemed like "normal" drifting apart. Her current marriage is surviving:

  • A "sexting" scandal with a younger journalist.
  • A total political 180 that alienated her from her liberal Hollywood peers.
  • Death threats and the anxiety of not having Secret Service protection for a long time.
  • Moving from a $6.6 million Brentwood mansion to the high-pressure environment of D.C.

The Cost of Staying

Is she happy? That’s the million-dollar question. If you watch her recent interviews on The View or CBS Mornings, she looks tired. She admits that she'll "never get used to" being a political spouse or a Cabinet spouse (Bobby is now the Secretary of Health and Human Services).

She’s lost friends. Comedian Tig Notaro, for one, publicly distanced herself. Larry David reportedly "can't love" the situation. Cheryl describes it as "difficult emotionally" for people to stay close to her now.

But she stays. She says she loves him, she loves their "menagerie" of animals (he once bought her daughter an emu named Toby), and she’s trying to take it "one day at a time."

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Key takeaways for those following the story:

  1. Check the memoir: If you want her side of the story without the tabloid spin, Unscripted is where she actually details the "fake separation" offer and the Nuzzi fallout.
  2. Location matters: They are now based primarily in Georgetown, D.C., though they still keep the Brentwood house. Watching where she spends her time is usually the best indicator of the marriage's health.
  3. The "Kennedy Factor": Being married to a Kennedy is famously difficult. Cheryl seems to have adopted a "us against the world" mentality, which often keeps couples together even when things get messy.

If you're looking for a formal cheryl hines divorce filing, you won't find one right now. They've settled into their new roles in Washington, for better or worse. Whether that holds through the next election cycle is anyone's guess, but for now, the "Curb" star is staying put.

To keep up with the most accurate updates on this situation, keep an eye on official court filings in D.C. or Los Angeles, rather than just "insider" quotes on gossip blogs. Also, following her daughter Catherine's social media often gives a more "real-life" look at their family dynamic than the staged political events.