Termination? Shock as Arnold Schwarzenegger and wife Maria Shriver separate after 25 years

Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver announced they have separated 'amicably' after 25 years of marriage.

In a shock announcement, the couple who have four children together, released a joint statement saying they were living apart while they 'work on the future' of their marriage.

Shriver helped bolster Schwarzenegger's campaign eight years ago to become California Governor.

She stood by the Terminator actor at the time amid claims he groped a string of women during his movie career.

Separating: Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and wife Maria Shriver announced they are splitting tonight, pictured here together in February

The Los Angeles Times broke the story late on Monday night saying that Shriver, 55, is 'moving out of their Brentwood mansion while the two determine the next step in their 25-year marriage'.

The newspaper said Shriver has actually been living apart from the actor-turned-politician for the last few weeks.

The former First Couple confirmed their separation on Monday night after questions were raised by reporters.

Sign of trouble? Schwarzenegger left Maria behind this past Sunday after attending a Mother's Day brunch with her and their children in Santa Monica

'This has been a time of great personal and professional transition for each of us,' the couple said in their joint statement.

'After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion and prayer, we came to this decision together.

'At this time, we are living apart while we work on the future of our relationship.'

Before Schwarzenegger, 63, became governor of California in 2003, Shriver was a superstar presenter for NBC News.

Picture of happiness: The couple married in a lavish ceremony on April 26, 1986 in Massachusetts

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Shriver is a member of America's famous Kennedy political dynasty.

The daughter of Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, she met her estranged husband In 1977 when they were introduced by former NBC News presenter Tom Brokaw at a charity tennis tournament.

They married on April 26, 1986 in a lavish ceremony in Hyannis, Massachusetts near the Kennedy family compound.

Shriver gave birth to their first child, Katherine in 1989 and she delivered their second daughter Christina in 1991. The births of Patrick and Christopher followed in 1993 and 1997.

Family support: Arnold with wife Maria and their children Katherine, Christina, Patrick and Christopher as he was sworn in for a second term in 2006

In the 1980s Shriver co-anchored NBC News's Sunday Today and later became a contributing anchor on Dateline NBC in 1989.

Once her husband announced his plans to run for California's governorship, she took an unpaid leave of absence from NBC News to support her husband's political aspirations.

Days before voters went to the polls in 2003, Schwarzenegger's campaign was rocked by allegations from six women who said he had groped them on movie sets, in studio offices and in other settings over the last three decades, without their consent.

Ever present: Maria, seen with her husband in 2003 days after the groping allegations surfaced, stood by his side during the controversy

In a series of interviews with the Los Angeles Times, three of the women claimed Schwarzenegger grabbed their breasts, while a fourth said he reached under her skirt and touched her buttocks.

A fifth woman said Schwarzenegger groped her and tried to remove her bathing suit in a hotel elevator and a sixth accused him of pulling her onto his lap and asking if a certain sexual act had ever been performed on her.

However, the Times withheld the women's identities and did not print their names.

Power couple: Arnold and Maria attended a dinner hosted by President Barack Obama at the White House in 2009 for the National Governors Association

Schwarzenegger's campaign spokesman, Sean Walsh, immediately responded by saying the allegations were untrue, and insisted they were part of an effort to undermine the Republican candidate by his Democratic rivals.

'We believe Democrats and others are using this to try to hurt Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign,' Walsh said.

'We believe that this is coming so close before the election, something that discourages good, hard-working, decent people from running for office.'

Famous family: Arnold and Maria with her uncle, the late Senator Edward Kennedy after the funeral for Michael Kennedy who died in a skiing accident in 1998

Despite the controversy, voters elected Schwarzenegger and ousted then Governor Gray Davis.

The actor-turned-politician was re-elected in 2006. But a short time later, as California's economy began to implode, his approval rating plummeted to one of the lowest levels in state history.

Schwarzenegger served the maximum two terms allowed by California state law and he left office this past January.

Because of his vast personal wealth from his acting career, the Austrian born star did not accept the governor's salary of $175,000 per year the entire time he was in office.

After he returned to private life, the former Governor said serving California had cost him as much as $200 million in potential movie deals, but he claimed 'it was more than worth it.'

[Source : dailymail.co.uk]