People forget. Before the Bennifer era, before the paparazzi chases in Brentwood, and long before the "cool mom" Instagram vibes, there was Jennifer Garner and Scott Foley. They were the ultimate "it" couple of the late '90s WB era. Two young, beautiful actors who seemed to have figured out the secret sauce to a Hollywood romance.
But then, it just ended.
It wasn't a messy tabloid explosion with plates being thrown. It was more of a slow fade—a quiet "implosion" as Garner herself later called it. If you grew up watching Felicity or Alias, you probably remember the shock of their 2003 split. Honestly, looking back, their relationship is a fascinating case study in what happens when one person’s career goes into orbit while the other is still on the launchpad.
The Felicity Connection: Where It All Began
They met in 1998 on the set of Felicity. Foley was the leading man, playing the sensitive, slightly tortured Noel Crane. Garner was just a guest star, brought in to play Hannah Bibb, Noel’s long-distance girlfriend from back home.
Talk about art imitating life.
They hit it off instantly. Foley has since admitted that they started dating almost immediately after meeting on set. By October 2000, they were married. They didn't do the big, flashy celebrity wedding thing. Instead, they had a quiet ceremony in their backyard. It felt grounded. It felt like they were the exception to the Hollywood rule.
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Why the Jennifer Garner and Scott Foley Marriage Couldn't Last
What went wrong? Basically, Alias happened.
In 2001, J.J. Abrams—who had worked with them on Felicity—cast Garner as Sydney Bristow. Almost overnight, she wasn't just "Scott Foley’s wife" or a "working actress." She was a global superstar. She was winning Golden Globes and kicking doors down on Sunday nights.
That kind of shift changes the molecular structure of a marriage.
Foley has been incredibly candid about this over the years. He told TV Guide back in the day that Jennifer became a huge celebrity and deserved everything she got. But he also acknowledged that the pressure was intense. There were rumors of infidelity—specifically involving Garner’s Alias co-star Michael Vartan—but Foley flatly denied them. He insisted there was no "third party."
The "Victims of Hollywood" Narrative
Garner has her own take. Years later, she told InStyle that they were "victims of Hollywood." She grew up in West Virginia, where people tend to stick things out. In L.A., everything moves at 100 mph. If a marriage hits a speed bump, the culture tells you to just get out and find a new car.
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"If we lived where I was brought up," she said, "we would probably still be together."
It’s a heavy thought. It suggests the divorce wasn't about a lack of love, but a lack of time and space to actually be a couple. They were 28 when they married. By 31, it was over.
The 2003 Oscars: The Moment We Knew
The official end came in early 2003. Fans noticed something was up when Garner showed up to the Oscars alone. She was a presenter that night, looking incredible, but the lack of Foley on her arm was deafening.
Legal documents later revealed that March 23—the very night of those Oscars—was their official date of separation. They announced it to the public on April 1. Many people thought it was a sick April Fool's joke. It wasn't. Garner filed for divorce in May 2003, citing "irreconcilable differences."
Where Are They Now? (The 2026 Perspective)
It’s been over two decades. Both have moved on to entirely different lives.
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Foley is happily married to Marika Domińczyk (they’ve been together since 2007) and they have three kids. He’s carved out a great career with shows like Scandal and Whiskey Cavalier. He recently joked on Andy Cohen’s radio show about how his wife "enjoys his squirming" when he has to talk about his famous ex.
Garner, of course, went on to marry Ben Affleck, have three children, and eventually navigate another very public divorce. She’s now in a long-term relationship with businessman John Miller.
Are they still friends?
Kinda. They aren't grab-a-coffee-every-week friends. Foley has said they don't really keep in contact because they both have their own families and lives. However, he also mentioned that whenever they bump into each other in Los Angeles, it’s totally cordial. There’s no bad blood. No drama. Just two people who shared a life when they were young and trying to figure out the world.
Actionable Insights from the Garner-Foley Split
There is actually a lot to learn from their story if you're navigating your own relationship or career shifts:
- The "Success Gap" is Real: When one partner’s career suddenly eclipses the other’s, it requires intentional communication. It’s not about jealousy; it’s about the change in lifestyle and power dynamics.
- Don't Marry Too Young: Garner has been vocal about wishing she had waited until she was 30. Maturity changes how you handle conflict.
- Civility is Possible: You don't have to be "best friends" with an ex to be respectful. Moving on doesn't require a bridge-burning ceremony.
- Environment Matters: Your social circle and the city you live in can put undue pressure on a relationship. Recognizing those external stressors is the first step to surviving them.
The story of Jennifer Garner and Scott Foley isn't a tragedy. It’s just a very human story about two people who grew apart while the cameras were rolling.