Michael & Catherine IS THIS THE END?

Catherine was holding the family together for father-in-law Kirk – but now she’s free to leave

When Kirk Douglas died aged 103 recently, it heralded the end of a golden Hollywood era. So too, sadly, did it bring about the demise of his son Michael’s tumultuous 19-year marriage.

This is according to sources in the US, who say it was only caring for Kirk that kept Michael and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones together in recent years – and just days after his funeral, Catherine reportedly “sat down and told Michael, ‘I want out.’”

“Catherine’s decision to leave the marriage to take time for herself has left Michael completely blindsided,” our source says.

But the 50-year-old “didn’t make the choice lightly”.

“She put a lot of thought into this,” says the insider. “Catherine’s been miserable for a long time – years, even – but she kept it together for the kids and Kirk’s sake.”

Now, with her father-in-law – who adored Catherine – gone, and the couple’s son Dylan, 19, at college and daughter Carys, 16, preparing to fly the coop, the Welsh actress has decided it’s time.