It's official: Joshua Malina, best known for his iconic roles in "The West Wing" and "Scandal," is parting ways with his wife, Melissa Merwin. According to court documents obtained by Closer, Melissa filed for divorce on August 2, bringing an end to a 28-year marriage.

A Marriage That Lasted Nearly Three Decades

Joshua and Melissa tied the knot on December 1, 1996, marking the beginning of what seemed like a beautiful journey together. For almost three decades, the couple navigated life’s ups and downs as a united front. However, Melissa's recent filing reveals irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split. Interestingly, the date of their separation was not disclosed in the documents, and the filing itself took place in Los Angeles.

No Minor Children, But Support Requests

The couple shares two adult children, Avi and Daisy, ensuring that child custody or support isn't a concern in this matter. However, Melissa has requested spousal support in her filing, indicating that financial considerations may play a role in their divorce proceedings. It's clear that while they’ve decided to part ways, the couple remains committed to handling their situation with care and consideration for their family.

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A Glimpse into Their Private Lives

Throughout their years together, Joshua and Melissa kept their marriage largely private, away from the spotlight. This discretion made their union all the more intriguing to fans. In December 2021, Joshua briefly broke this pattern by sharing a rare post on Instagram celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. With heartfelt words and a beautiful wedding photo, he wrote, “I married this knockout 25 years ago today! 💕 @isaroseflowers.” It was a rare glimpse into their personal lives, one that showcased the deep affection they once shared.

Joshua has yet to address their split publicly on social media. Meanwhile, Melissa's most recent Instagram post was in March, where she celebrated their daughter Daisy's birthday. The post featured a heartwarming collection of photos showing Daisy's journey from childhood to adulthood.

From "The West Wing" to "Scandal": Joshua Malina's Career Highlights

Fans of political dramas may recognize Joshua Malina from his role as Will Bailey in "The West Wing," a role he portrayed from 2002 to 2006. But his talent didn’t stop there. Over the years, he also appeared in "Big Shots," "In Plain Sight," "Backwash," "Leap Year," and more. From 2012 to 2018, Joshua starred as David Rosen in the hit series "Scandal," a character that resonated deeply with audiences. As the father of two, Joshua opened up about saying goodbye to the show, sharing his thoughts on the experience.

Joshua Malina divorce — ALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

When asked about learning his character's fate on "Scandal," Joshua revealed that he received a personal heads-up from none other than the show's creator, Shonda Rhimes. “I got a call the night before [the table read] from Shonda letting me know that it was curtains for David Rosen, which was nice of her,” he told Variety in April 2018.

Despite the secrecy surrounding his character's death, Joshua managed to keep the news under wraps until the episode aired. “It was hard. I think I only told my wife and my parents and nobody off of the show,” he confessed. “I also wanted to kind of watch everybody else as they found out, so it was sort of fun for me because I knew I would enjoy seeing people’s reactions at the table read.”

Leaving a Legacy Behind

Reflecting on the hardest part of leaving "Scandal," Joshua was candid about his feelings. “You kind of have to fall in love with whomever you’re playing, and I just really, really liked the character Shonda and the writers wrote. I loved the terrific, sort of interesting, complex guy,” he shared. “In the world of Scandal and the universe of Scandal as created by Shonda Rhimes, he was as close to a good guy as you get, I think. It sort of made moral sense to me that in that universe that’s why David had to go. He was kind of maybe too good for the world of Scandal. I felt sad I guess for Abby because David and Abby were finally reaching what it looked like happy end game and I thought, ‘Oh, that’s kind of sad. It’s not to be.’”