Actress Melissa Gilbert and her husband Bruce Boxleitner have announced they have separated after 16 years of marriage.

Melissa released a statement via People confirming the story. She said, “our marriage has been full of love over the years and we have had four amazing children together.”

Gilbert then appealed for privacy on behalf of her family as they try to deal with this difficult time.

The relationship between the couple had begin very shakily. Bruce, has been a star in “Tron” and the most recent sequel by Disney “Tron: Legacy,” had previously canceled their engagement two times before they finally married in 1995.

Their marriage yielded one child, Michael Garrett Boxleitner who was named to honor Bruce’s co-star in the film “Little House ,” Michael Landon.

Gilbert’s claim to fame came when she starred as Laura Ingalls in the movie, “Little House on the Prairie.” She previously had a marriage with actor Bo Brinkman which lasted for four years before she started dating Bruce. That marriage resulted in one child, Dakota Paul Brinkman. Their marriage ended in 1992.

Gilbert’s husband, Bruce also brought two children, Sam and Lee, to the marriage. He had the children when he was involved with actress Kathryn Holcomb.

The couple also starred together as husband and wife in the movie “Babylon 5.”

Gilbert has starred in several made-for-TV movies and TV series.