They may be heading for the divorce courts after 28 years together, but by Hollywood standards Mel Gibson’s marriage to Robyn Moore was one of the most enduring.

So shortlived are many partnerships in Tinsletown that the phrase ‘Hollywood marriage’ has connotations of a union that quickly ends in divorce.

Gibson’s divorce is likely to be the most expensive in Hollywood history. It is estimated that his fortune of $640m could be halved by his wife after photographs were published of him hugging a mystery brunette on a Costa Rican beach.

Other expensive divorces include Michael Douglas and Diandra Luker ($45m), Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva ($80m), Harrison Ford and Melissa Matheson ($85), Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman ($90m) and Steven Spielberg and Amy Irvine ($100m).

... And the marriages that stood the test of time

One of the strongest marriages in Hollywood was that of the late Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward, who were married for 50 years, until his death last year.

Danny De Vito married Cheers actress Rhea Perlman after dating for 11 years. They have been married for 27 years and have three children.

Box office star Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have been married for 21 years.

Martin Sheen, 68, has been married to Janet Templeton, 65, for 47 years. The West Wing star married Janet in 1961 and they have four children.

Dirty Dancing star Patrick Swayze have survived 33 years of marriage. 56-year-old Patrick - who has pancreatic cancer - met Lisa at a dance class.

Donald Sutherland and Francine Racette have been married for 37 years.

When Harry met Sally star Billy Crystal has been married to Jancie Goldfinger for 38 years.

Denzel Washington, 54, met his wife Paulettea, 57, when they appeared together in the movie Wilma in 1977. The couple married five years later. The Oscar winning actor says of his wife: “she puts up with me.”

Bill Cosby has been married to his wife Camille for 45 years.

Meryl Streep married Don Gummer in 1978. They are still together.