Kelsey Grammer wife files for divorce, will appear on Real Housewives of Bev Hills

June 13, 2010 - New York, New York, U.S. - Actor KELSEY GRAMMER and his wife CAMILLE GRAMMER attend the 64th Annual Tony Awards held at Radio City Music Hall. © Red Carpet Pictures
Back in March, Kelsey Grammer’s wife Camille was announced as a new castmember on the upcoming Bravo reality show Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. There was a lot of speculation as to whether Kelsey would appear on the show with her, and whether he approved of his wife presumably being reduced to a caricature for entertainment purposes. Camille was the most famous castmember announced, along with Paris Hilton’s aunts and other rich women like the wife of a plastic surgeon and a restauranteur. Filming started in March and it’s unknown whether it’s concluded at this point.

Kelsey announced yesterday on his Twitter account that he’s divorcing Camille. (Update: Kelsey’s wife is the one who filed. Thanks to those of you who pointed this out.) The couple then issued a follow-up statement asking for privacy. Kelsey, 55, and Camille, 41, have been married 13 years and have two children born via surrogate: daughter Mason, 8, and son Jude, almost 6. It’s Kelsey’s third marriage. He first marriage was to dance instructor Doreen Alderman from 1982-1990 and they had one daughter, actress Spencer Grammer, 26.

His second wife, who he met in a strip club where she was working, tried to commit suicide when he broke up with her after nine months in 1992. She was pregnant at the time and ended up getting an abortion shortly afterwards. (The article quoted below has more on that sordid tale, and Wikipedia notes that while Grammer was married to that stripper he had another child with a makeup artist mistress.)

Now Kelsey’s third marriage is ending and people are wonder if his wife’s involvement in Real Housewives may have something to do with it. (I can’t find anything that reveals when it will premiere, but I’m assuming it will be in the fall.) Here’s more about what may have preceded the divorce, along with some interesting analysis as to whether the show will include any hints as to the problems they’re facing. There’s some awkward wording in this article, but they do a good job of summing up the other housewives that have announced divorces:

In a November 30, 2009, Playbill article, Playbill noted Kelsey Grammer was slated to star in “London’s critically acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production of Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein’s hit musical La Cage aux Folles” which was slated to open April 18, 2010, on Broadway. According to BroadwayWorld.com, rehearsals for La Cage aux Folles began March 1st. This meant Kelsey was in New York City rehearsing, then starring in La Cage while Camille and the kids were on the West Coast with Camille filming episodes of RHOBH.

On the divorce, Kelsey tweeted “things had fallen apart between us”. Kelsey’s last divorce, which occurred in 1993, occurred when Kelsey’s new sitcom Frasier was due to air in the fall. Kelsey, 38, had been married nine months to Leigh-Anne Csuhany, 23, a former exotic dancer Kelsey met at a strip club. Kelsey sought an annulment, charging his pregnant wife with “fraud” and “unsound mind”. Kelsey also sought custody of their unborn child. Five days later Leigh-Anne tried to commit suicide by way of a bottle of red wine and 5 bottles of Tylenol. Leigh-Ann survived. “A few days later, the pregnancy was aborted”.

Four years, in 1997, Kelsey wed Camille Donatacci, a former Playboy model. Due to Camille suffering from a form of of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Camille and Kelsey used a surrogate to produce daughter Mason, born in 2002, and son Jude, born in 2004.

In the divorce papers, Camille cited irreconcilable differences and asked for primary custody of the kids and spousal support.

With Bravo staying mum on how many episodes of RHOBH to be aired, there’s no way to ascertain whether filming for season one of RHOBH has ended, and, whether any of the already filmed episodes will include the soon to be divorced Kelsey Grammer appearing with his about to be ex-wife Camille. Divorces, impending divorces or marital discord of Real Housewives cast members which occurred during filming Real Housewives episodes have previously been hidden from viewers. Real Housewives of Orange County’s Jeana Keough admitted she and her ex, Matt Keough, had been in the process of getting a divorce for “several seasons”. It wasn’t until Jeana’s final season Jeana admitted the marriage had hit the skids or that her husband had a severe alcohol dependency problem. During a prior season, Matt’s “trips away for business” included a stint in the local jail on DUI hit and run charges. Rumors have it Jeana will return for the next season of RHOOC after resolving a spat over salary negotiations.

In the past season of RHOOC, cast member Tamra Barney separated from hubby Simon with Simon filing divorce papers after the season ended. Simon claimed the Real Housewives reality show had changed Tamra with fame and celebrity going to Tamra’s head. Tamra claimed she and Simon had had a troubled marriage before Tamra signed onto RHOOC. That Tamra and Simon had been in marriage counseling for three years.

Over on the East Coast, the third season of RHONYC began with Countess LuAnn de Lesseps stating she and her Count had separated then later announced the divorce was final. (LuAnn’s Count ran off with a real life Ethiopian princess.) LuAnn admitted the Count spent a majority of his time at their European estate.

Did Bravo’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills play a part in the Kelsey Grammer-Camille Donatacci impending divorce? At this juncture there’s no clear cut evidence RHOOC played a role. Based on other Real Housewives cast members and troubled marriages, in the future episodes of RHOBV, which have yet to be aired, Camille and Kelsey will most likely keep their marital troubles private, away from the prying eyes of the Bravo production team cameras.

[From DeathBy100Papercuts]

I bet Camille’s involvement in RHOBV didn’t help her marriage at all, and you have to wonder if Kelsey signed off on it. How could anyone with anything to lose think that participating in a Real Housewives show would be worth the money and infamy? Reality shows often spell doom for relationships too.

Update: TMZ has more on why the marriage supposedly ended, and they note that Kelsey was in NY working on Broadway and that “Camille stayed with their two kids in L.A. and flew back and forth to visit him, but sources say it became apparent ‘Kelsey loved New York, his friends and his freedom more than his marriage.‘” They also say that Kelsey didn’t call his children on father’s day. It sounds like the story comes straight from Camille. A source says “She doesn’t know what Kelsey is doing in New York, but he’s made it pretty clear he wants nothing to do with marriage anymore. She didn’t see it coming.” How long until the cheating stories surface?

Kelsey Grammer and his family during happier times at a Cancer benefit hosted by Kelly Ripa in Watermill, NY on July 26, 2008. These archival images were taken shortly before Kelsey suffered from a near fatal heart attack. Kelsey Grammer and his third wife Camille Donatacci announced today, July 1, 2010, that they would be divorcing after nearly thirteen years of marriage. The couple have two children together, Mason Grammer and Jude Grammer. It has been stated that Camille is requesting joint legal custody of the children and spousal and child support from her soon to be ex husband. Fame Pictures, Inc

NEW YORK - APRIL 18: Camille Donatacci Grammer and husband/actor Kelsey Grammer attends the after party for the opening of 'La Cage Aux Folles' on Broadway at Providence on April 18, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Charles Eshelman/Getty Images)

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 30: Camille Grammer and actor Kelsey Grammer attend the 6th Annual Roots Jam Session at Key Club on January 30, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - APRIL 18: Actor Kelsey Grammer and wife Camille Donatacci Grammer attend the after party for the opening of 'La Cage Aux Folles' on Broadway at Providence on April 18, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Charles Eshelman/Getty Images)

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39 Responses to “Kelsey Grammer wife files for divorce, will appear on Real Housewives of Bev Hills”

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  1. k says:

    I thought Kelsey was married to Diane Chambers and Lilith Sternin.

  2. Ashley says:

    WHAT? Another Bravo Housewives show? Good gosh! Anyway, They lasted longer than I thought they would.

  3. Oi says:

    She looks like what Brittney Murphy would have become.

  4. ! says:

    I think this RHOBH gig wasn’t what broke the marriage, but instead a symptom. I mean, everyone was wondering how Kelsey Grammar could possibly approve of this. Answer: he didn’t!

  5. Lisa Turtle says:

    cute kids

  6. Borderlined says:

    I thought she filed for divorce yesterday… I think Camille made the first move here.

    http://www.dlisted.com/node/37881

  7. Hautie says:

    It is sad to see this one ending. He had so many issue’s with drugs and alcohol in the early to mid 1990’s. And he seemed to be in such a good place with her and the marriage. Those are cute children…

    But LA is a rough town to stay married in with all the craziness.

    I do find it hard to believe that Kelsey thought Camille doing this show would be a positive thing.

    Makes me wonder if they had already separated months ago. And it is just now being filed by Camille at the courthouse.

  8. Maddie says:

    On TMZ or else where they stated that on Father’s Day Kelsey did not call his kids and that was the final straw that made her file.

    All I know is that Kelsey Grammer should not get married again, unless he likes paying out huge amounts of child support and alimony.

    I have to wonder how much money he makes a year afford all these ex-wives and kids, I know one is 26, but please with his family of origins problems he really should not get married again.

  9. TeeTee says:

    TMZ has papers to show that SHE filed first.

    I’m sure she will not write abook about both of their demons, not happening.

  10. d says:

    he has such wierd taste in women. i get that he’s not like his characters, but still, I always picture him with women that AREN’T playboy/stripper/etc. types. maybe he thinks he doesn’t deserve better or doesn’t want to bother. so odd.

  11. Tia C says:

    I have to hand it to him – he is a good actor – because wow, he really is the opposite of Frasier Crane, isn’t he? Frasier has the most refined taste, and Kelsey likes… strippers and Playmates. After 3 failed marriages, it’s pretty apparent that he should not marry anymore, just be single and play with the skanks he so clearly enjoys.

  12. Stargazer says:

    It’s restaurateur, not restaurantier (wow, spell correctly much??)

  13. Celebitchy says:

    Stargazer I googled that word quickly and found other spellings that way. I should have doubled checked, but next time point it out without being rude about it. You try to write as much and not make errors. In fact you spelled it wrong too and left out an “N” 8P

    And I will fix the information about who filed, I’m sorry for getting that wrong. Ugh.

  14. EMV says:

    Wow…i like Kelsey Grammer. he is a great actor>>>BTW restaurantier is not a word. Restaurateur and Restauranter are the same thing.

  15. manda says:

    re: he didn’t call the kids on fathers day.

    I think that it should be the kids that call the dad on father’s day. It’s his day, he deserves the call. I know they are young, but then their mother should have had them call. I’m sure there was more to that, but just commenting that he didn’t call on father’s day isn’t sufficient. Maybe he was waiting by the phone all day for them to call. Hahaha, yeah, probably not, but maybe!

  16. Linda says:

    This is not the Middle East. Women get to work or be on TV shows if they want to in America. Get a life, Kelsey.

  17. Obvious says:

    I believe both spellings are correct. One is European one is American.

    That being said This sucks for the kids. I bet Spense is shaking her head right now going WTF dad! (She’s currently filming Greek-so excited for it’s return!)

  18. crazymary says:

    @Manda. I completely agree. It’s her responsibilty to make sure the kids call their dad on Father’s day. She looks like a porn star. Hard core porn. I guess my distaste for her comes from the whole “I have IBS and can’t have children because of it.” I call bullshit on that one.

  19. bellaluna says:

    I’ve liked KG since his “Cheers” days. I’d hoped this marriage would last, as he seemed to finally be comfortable in his personal life.

    Side-track – Why do they use the word “housewives” in the title when several of them aren’t actually wives? Since I refuse to watch “reality” TV, I only know what I’ve read in passing.

    @ manda & crazymary – ITA. With you both.

  20. Keen says:

    @manda and @crazymary
    -totally agree! that was the first thing I thought, of course he might not’ve been available but still….kids call the dad on fathers day! Isn’t there some statistic/joke about how thats the biggest collect call day of the year?

  21. Scarlet Vixen says:

    I also agree that it was her responsibility to have the kids call on Father’s Day. I’m a divorced mum with a young son whose ex was actually supposed to have our son on Father’s Day (but didn’t even bother showing up). I still made the effort to have my son call & wish him a Happy Father’s Day. But, then again, maybe they’d already set up an agreed time or something–who knows…

    And this is a little off-topic, but she claims that she can’t be pregnant b/c of IBS? ok…I googled some info on IBS & pregnancy and the consensus seems to be that one can’t really tell how pregnancy can affect it–it could even have a positive affect on your IBS. So, I call BS on this one. But she can have a boob job, a facelift, and who knows what other kinds of cosmetic surgery? Sounds like someone just didn’t want stretch marks…

  22. Melissa says:

    @crazymary – I’m with you on that one. My sister has ulcerative colitis (and not a mild case, unfortunately) and has had 3 pregnancies/children.

  23. Bonnie says:

    Keen: Actually I don’t believe that’s a joke.

    Father’s haven’t had the respect they deserve for years, which I blame for the male bashing comedy shows on television that make father’s stupid. But that’s a different post for a different day.

  24. Marjalane says:

    Uh, he has quite the high brow taste in women, doesn’t he?! As much as I would love to have a celebrities’ bank account, I wouldn’t want their marriages for ANYTHING!

  25. Kim says:

    Another celeb couple that the tabloids had no clue was breaking up

  26. msmerlin says:

    Kids are supposed to call their fathers on Father’s Day, not the other way around. She has always looked desperate and weird to me anyway, another one of those plastic women who’ve lost any natural beauty they may have had and are now a mannequin. No wonder they used a surrogate; she probably had no working parts….lol Maybe this time he’ll find someone real instead of sex trade workers.

  27. lucy2 says:

    Given his track record, I think it’s likely that more than just the TV show is at play here. I’m sure it didn’t help, but I’d guess that was just one of many problems.
    He is a good actor, but surprisingly for someone who has always played high brow characters, his real life sounds pretty trashy.

  28. smuggler says:

    When the surrogate was pregnant with their first child, I heard that Camille didn’t want her body “ruined” by a pregnancy— whether true or not, I do not know…

  29. Victoria says:

    If she screams too loud – and she will not – he’ll releasethe truth about why she used a surrogate. IBS? Come on! Are they even hers?

  30. Jeri says:

    I heard this at the time & didn’t get it then & don’t get it now. What does IBS have to do with pregnacy?? I suppose you can get a doctor to say anything (or you can make it up).

  31. kim says:

    Oh goodness – what so she can start show with good story line? Why in the world they picked her for this show or any show i can not fathom. I can not stand to look at her fake lips.

  32. anonymous says:

    camille is divorcing kelsey. camille is a good woman, and they have a great kid. kelsey is a has been alcoholic, who is lucky for his years with camille. he was funny when he was drunk, but either he is back to boozing or he is a total bore or an abuser now, but i know she is smart in getting rid of him finally. she is asking for primary custody, so i say he is boozing and abusing again.

  33. Tess says:

    She looks udderly fake.

  34. canadianchick says:

    He’s so talented-too bad he can’t sort out his love life. I saw his biography years ago-dude has had some major tragedies and addictions to battle.

  35. coucou says:

    Stargazer was rude to CeleBitchy, me no likey…booooo….

  36. Jazz says:

    @anonymous is that you Camille??! I remember reading that Camille and his eldest daughter Spencer didn’t get along so maybe she’s glad they’re divorcing.

  37. Trashaddict says:

    Either she had irritable bowel and her excuse was complete BS, or someone got it wrong and she actually had inflammatory bowel syndrome, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and which really can be debilitating, especially when it flares up and the person literally poops blood. Wonder which one it was?

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  39. J says:

    How can I find the Canadian Leigh-Anne Csuhany?
    I lost track of her after divorcing Kelsey.
    Thanks!