Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman and More Surprising Celebrity Splits

Oct. 9, 2012 — -- intro: It was the breakup virtually no one saw coming: Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman.

A rep for actors confirmed Monday that the couple has decided to separate after more than 30 years of marriage. DeVito, 67, and Perlman, 64, were a Hollywood institution. Besides their on-screen comedy credentials -- among hers, "Cheers;" among his, "Twins" -- they founded a production company, Jersey Films, that put out cultural touchstones like "Pulp Fiction" and "Garden State."

The couple was rooted in the industy. They met in 1970 after Perlman went to see a friend in the Broadway play "The Shrinking Bride" and ended up charmed by DeVito, who was also in the production.

In a 1983 interview with People magazine, Perlman said DeVito "was a lot more fun and a lot more sexy" than men she had previously dated. DeVito recalled, "She was vibrant, with a great sense of humor, and real warm." The two moved in together after two weeks, but didn't tie the knot until 1982.

After 13 years as a couple, Perlman told People their relationship was so solid, "you'd really have to work hard at breaking us up at this point." Years later, when asked about the secret to his enduring marriage, DeVito reportedly replied, "Love. Love. I mean, really. You know what? Who knows? The secret to success is to try to never figure that out."

Sadly, their success didn't last, and they're not the only couple to shock fans with a sudden breakup:

quicklist: 1title: Kristin Stewart and Robert Pattinsontext: When Kristin Stewart apologized for cheating on Robert Pattinson, it was the first official confirmation that the "Twilight" co-stars were even dating. After Us Weekly broke the news that Stewart was involved in an affair with her "Snow White and the Huntsman" director Rupert Sanders, she issued a statement to People, saying, "This momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob. I love him, I love him, I'm so sorry."

Stewart and Pattinson were believed to be dating for three years and had recent become increasingly open about their relationship, kissing in public and letting themselves be photographed while on dates. After news of Stewart's infidelity broke, Pattinson moved out of their shared Los Angeles home and took refuge in Reese Witherspoon's Ojai, Calif., estate. But recently, People reported that the couple had reunited and would be taking their renewed romance on the road this fall to promote the final "Twilight" installment.media: 17424567

quicklist: 2title: Katie Holmes and Tom Cruisetext: When Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise in July, she took the world by surprise but none more than Cruise. Sources close to the actor told ABC News that Cruise was "stunned" by Holmes' action, which his publicist said left him "deeply saddened." Less than two weeks later, Holmes and Cruise reached a confidential settlement to end their five-year marriage.