Sean Penn files for legal separation

Sean Penn has filed for a legal separation from his wife Robin Wright Penn. Photo / AP

Sean Penn has filed for legal separation from his wife of 13 years, actress Robin Wright Penn, according to reports.

Celebrity news website people.com reports that the actor filed court documents last Friday in Marin County, California, asking for the legal separation from his wife, citing irreconcilable differences.

The website report claims Penn is seeking joint physical custody of their children, daughter Dylan, 18 and son Hopper, 15.

The papers show the couple separated on April 23.

Penn, 48, and Wright Penn, 43, started divorce proceedings in December 2007, but they got back together four months later. The divorce petition was later dismissed at their request.

Eyebrows were raised back in February when Penn neglected to thank his wife in his Oscar acceptance speech for his portrayal of gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk.

Penn divorced from pop singer Madonna in 1989.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE