My mom and I were just talking about Naveen Andrews (41) and Barbara Hershey (62), and both of us expressed surprise that they were still seemingly together – not so much, as it turns out. People Magazine got Naveen’s manager to confirm that Hershey and Andrews split some-odd six months ago! What the hell? What’s with the recent trend of celebrities splitting months before anything is announced? With Naveen and Barbara, my guess is that they were just simply one of the stranger pairings in the Hollywood universe, but I still don’t know how the tabloids missed the Halle Berry-Gabriel Aubry split, or the Tim Robbins-Susan Sarandon split. Here’s a little more from People:

They had a 21-year age difference and endured a strain that would have sunk any other relationship, and still Barbara Hershey and Naveen Andrews continued as one of Hollywood’s more endearing couples.

But now comes word that it quietly ended for Hershey, 62, and Andrews, 41, six months ago. “They remain best of friends,” Andrews’s manager Renee Jennet tells PEOPLE.

In 1998, long before Andrews would go on to star in TV’s Lost, the then-29-year-old actor met Hershey, then 50, a veteran of films such as Beaches and Hannah and Her Sisters, on the set of the obscure 1999 indie film Drowning on Dry Land.

They were together until a 2005 separation that was as brief as it was eventful: Andrews confirmed that during the split he fathered a child with another woman. Andrews and Hershey worked things out and continued their relationship until their breakup last year.

[From People]

Back in 2006, an actress named Elena Eustache gave birth to Naveen’s son Naveen Joshua. The love child had been conceived (allegedly) when Naveen and Barbara were on a break. Naveen and Barbara got back together the same year, and then, back in January 2009, both Barbara and Naveen fought for full custody of Naveen Joshua after Elena seemed to go a little crazy. She took the boy out of state, in violation of the custody agreement she and Naveen had worked out. During the custody hearing, Elena accused Barbara Hershey of witchcraft (for real) and that Naveen was trying to poison his son. The judge ordered a psych evaluation of Elena, and Naveen and Barbara got full custody. There is no word on whether Naveen and Barbara’s split will affect the custodial arrangement. Beyond that, all I can think about is Naveen being available – sweet Jesus, I love that man. I doubt I’m his type though. Maybe I’ll set him up with my mom.

Here are some cute photos of Naveen with Naveen Joshua. He looks a bit like Matthew McConaughey’s little Levi:

Naveen and Barbara on Sept. 10, 2007. Credit: WENN.

Naveen Andrews and his current girlfriend, Barbara Hershey. His son is with an ex

Naveen Andrews of Lost had a dramatic courtroom battle yesterday with the mother of his three year old son, Naveen Joshua. Prior to the hearing both parents shared custody, but now Naveen has been awarded sole legal and physical custody of the child until another hearing next month. Apparently the boy’s mother, Elena Eustache, made wild allegations against Naveen and his girlfriend, actress Barbara Hershey, that hurt her case. She also left Los Angeles county with the child against court order. The poor mom was sitting on the courtroom steps crying after the hearing while Naveen left holding their son.

The “Lost” star and Elena Eustache, the mother of three-year-old Naveen Joshua, were in L.A. County Superior Court, where a judge changed the custody order after Elena allegedly took the boy out of L.A. County without permission. Naveen also claimed Elena kept the boy from him.

The parents had joint custody, but today, with the help of disso-queen Laura Wasser, the order was modified so Naveen now has sole physical and legal custody pending a full hearing next month.

We’re told Elena has alleged Naveen’s girlfriend, Barbara Hershey, practices witchcraft and that Naveen and Hershey have poisoned the boy. In response, Wasser asked the judge to order Elena to undergo psychiatric testing.

Elena brought the boy to court. After the ruling, the bailiff took the boy from Elena and gave him to Naveen, who left the courthouse with Hershey.

Under the new order, the boy is allowed to travel to Hawaii where Naveen films “Lost”. He can be accompanied either by Naveen or Hershey.

After the hearing, Elena told TMZ, “I can’t believe celebrities and their money. They always get what they want.”

The pic above [on TMZ] shows the boy, Naveen, Laura Wasser and Barbara Hershey leaving court.

[From TMZ]

It surely helped Andrews’ case that he had such a high profile attorney and maybe the mother was right that it wouldn’t have went down that way if it was a more typical custody case. My heart kind of aches for the mom as I can’t imagine having my son taken away without the prospect of seeing him for a month. What’s more is that Andrews can even take the child to Hawaii with him while he’s working. We don’t know many details in this case, though, and just because the mom is crying hysterically and upset it doesn’t mean she deserves to continue to have custody or that she did the right thing with her son. Hopefully the judge was impartial and looked at the facts without being overly influenced by attorney Wasser or Naveen’s celebrity status.

Naveen Andrews and Barbara Hershey are shown on 9/10/07. Credit: WENN