Guitarist Eddie Van Halen and actress Valerie Bertinelli have announced they secretly separated nearly 10 months ago after 20 years of marriage.

This may have been posted previously, I apologize if it has...( I know we've been discussing it but I hadn't see the 10 months ago time frame)

Bertinelli's publicist, Heidi Schaeffer, confirmed the split Tuesday, but did not say whether the pair has plans to formally divorce.

The two have been living apart since summer 2001, when Bertinelli, 42, formerly of the sitcom One Day at a Time, began a role on the CBS religious drama Touched By an Angel.

Van Halen continued living with their 10-year-old son, Wolfgang, in Los Angeles while Bertinelli was filming the series in Salt Lake City.

They formally separated in October 2001, Schaeffer said.

It also begs to question whether Eddie is really drugging and boozing it up. Even if there are caretakers and nannies to take care of Wolfgang, I really doubt Valerie would have left him alone if his father was out of control. She's too good of a mother for that. I imagine she just realized how much more peaceful and quiet her life was without dealing with Eddie on a daily basis and she wants some peae of mind.

One thing for sure: She's gone the distance. If what is being said about Eddie is true (and I hope not); she has done more than her part to help him and the marriage.

She didn't want him to have to change schools like she did when she was a kid, because of her father's job with GM.

Van Halen and Bertinelli bought a house in Park City several years ago and that's where she lived while filming TBAA. Her brother, a professional photographer has lived in Park City over ten years.