The announcement came from the couple's publicists, who were unable to say whether Moore, 35, and Willis, 43, plan to separate or to divorce. The couple have three daughters, Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah Belle, who are aged between 4 and 9, .

No divorce petition has yet been filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Stardom

Demi Moore's film career started in 1984 in the film St Elmo's Fire: she went on to star in Ghost, Indecent Proposal and Striptease.

Bruce Willis rose to stardom with the hit television series Moonlighting and starred in the phenomenally successful Die Hard films. He is currently starring in the summer blockbuster, Armageddon.

They are also both shareholders in the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain, alongside fellow stars Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Whoopi Goldberg.

Spectacular ceremony

The two married in November 1987 after knowing each other for three months. The spectacular wedding was purported to have cost $875,000 - Little Richard sang at the ceremony.

Demi Moore had already been married once - at 16, to a man 11 years older - but walked out three years later.

Troubles were reported earlier

Last year, Moore was reported to have invited Leonardo DiCaprio to their home when Willis was away, but her husband quickly defended her.

The couple sued in America and Australia after allegations were made about the health of their marriage.

Earlier this year there was more speculation about the marriage when Bruce Willis was interviewed at the Cannes Film Festival.

When asked how he would spend the last five minutes of his life, he said, "with my children" - failing to mention his wife.