Morgan Freeman and wife divorcing after 24 years

Morgan Freeman and his wife, Myrna Colley-Lee, are shown at the after party for "The Country Girl" at Tavern On the Green in NY on 4/17/08. Credit: WENN

Morgan Freeman’s life sure has been in a lot of turmoil lately. After his very serious car crash on Sunday night, Freeman and his female passenger, Demaris Meyer, were airlifted to a hospital. He had a broken arm, broken elbow, and some type of shoulder injury, resulting in surgery to reconnect nerves and fix the damage in his left arm and hand.

There was a lot of gossip wondering why Freeman was out so late at night with a woman that wasn’t his wife. While it was originally reported that Meyer was a longtime friend of Freeman’s wife (which still may be true) it could be that she’s his girlfriend. It was confirmed today that Freeman and wife Myrna Colley-Lee are getting divorced, and have been legally separated since December.

The drama continues for Dark Knight star Morgan Freeman. Days after he was involved in a serious car accident, Freeman's business partner says the actor and his wife of 24 years, costumer Myrna Colley-Lee, have called it quits.

Mississippi-based attorney Bill Luckett tells Access Hollywood the couple "are involved in a divorce action." Luckett adds that "for legal and practical purposes, [Freeman and Colley-Lee] have been separated since December of 2007."

The couple met in 1976 when both were working off-Broadway. Freeman has four children: Two from a previous marriage, two from previous relationships.

The news comes as Freeman is recovering in a Memphis hospital following his car accident Sunday. His rep said the actor is "doing well" after doctor reconnected nerves and repaired damage to his left arm and hand on Monday. He is expected to be released in a few days.

[From Us Weekly]

The header photo is of the couple together this past April, well after the December date of their split. The phrasing was quite odd, "for legal and practical purposes, [Freeman and Colley-Lee] have been separated since December of 2007." Huh? Were they split or not? If so, why phrase it that way? And why were they together at a party? Perhaps they were keeping up appearances, or broke up and reconciled a time or two. Either way, it seems pretty obvious that Demaris Meyer is probably more than just a “family friend.”