Helen Hunt and Matthew Carnahan
Helen Hunt and Matthew Carnahan broke up after dating for 16 years. Pictured: Actors attend the “A Good Woman” gala at Roy Thomson Hall during the 29th Annual Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 15, 2004 in Ontario, Canada. Getty Images/Evan Agostini

Helen Hunt and Matthew Carnahan have broken up.

Hunt, 54, and Carnahan, 56, have decided to end their relationship after dating for 16 years. “She has been split up with Matthew for several months. They had a rocky relationship and many offs and ons over the years. They stayed together as long as they did because of their daughter,” a source close to “The Sessions” star told E! News. “They’ve split up before, but this time seems to be different.”

According to Daily Mail, the exes had a “messy breakup.” “The breakup was very messy,” a source close to the actress confessed. The “As Good As It Gets” star was reportedly convinced that her partner had strayed and she couldn’t get over her trust issues. “She had been suspicious for a long time that something was wrong. But he insisted he didn’t betray her,” the insider added.

When their split made headlines, their friends were shocked as the pair appeared to be very in love with each other. In fact, their married friends were jealous of their relationship.

However, the source revealed that when the exes were alone, they would “go head-to-head.” “Matthew moved out a few times over the years,” the insider added. “Helen would always take him back, and then time would pass and she’d kick him out again.”

Another source told People that Hunt and Carnahan had an on-and-off relationship, stating that they have broken up in the past and “have had trouble getting along for several years.”

Hunt and Carnahan started dating in 2001. When Hunt gave birth to their daughter, Makena Lei, she took a step back from the spotlight to prioritize her new career as a mom. “My family came to life. I had my daughter and chose to spend time with her. It’s the greatest pleasure I’ve ever known,” she told People in 2008.

Just two years ago, Hunt revealed that she’s working on a TV show with Carnahan. “It’s a very exciting time. I’m developing a show with my partner, Matthew Carnahan, who runs ‘House of Lies,’” she told Daily Beast. “It is something he’s written that we’d make together and I’d be in. It’s weird and wild and like stepping off the planet Earth. It’s a musical—but a hallucinogenic one. It’s totally crazy. We did a little work on it to present it to the network, and I felt completely out of my comfort zone.”

However, there is no update yet on their TV show. Meanwhile, Hunt is set to return to the big screen in “I Love You Daddy” that will premiere in September at the Toronto Film Festival.

What’s your take on Hunt and Carnahan’s split? Drop a comment below.

RELATED STORIES