This article was originally published on Crafting Your Home. A human contributor also wrote and edited the post.
Abby Elliott has filed for divorce from television writer and producer Bill Kennedy, marking the end of their nearly 10-year marriage and entering their marriage into a new, deeply personal legal chapter.
The actress, best known for playing Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto on The Bear, submitted the petition on Friday, July 17, according to court documents obtained exclusively by TMZ. The filing surfaced only weeks after the award-winning restaurant drama released its fifth and final season.
The documents identify irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and list July 8 as the couple’s date of separation. Elliott and Kennedy married on September 3, 2016, after meeting several years earlier while working on the same film. They share two young children, making custody and long-term family arrangements central parts of the case.
For now, the petition represents Elliott’s requests rather than a final agreement or court ruling. No completed settlement has been announced, and the filing does not establish how every parenting, financial, or property question will ultimately be decided. It does, however, provide the first formal outline of what Elliott is seeking as the couple begins navigating the legal process.
The Petition Sets Out Custody and Support Requests
Elliott is asking for joint legal and physical custody of the couple’s children, 5-year-old Edith and 3-year-old William. The petition does not include a completed parenting schedule or explain how the children’s time would be divided between their parents. Those details could become part of a later agreement or court order.
The actress is also requesting spousal support from Kennedy. At the same time, she is asking the court to end its authority to award him spousal support. Those positions are requests included in the initial petition, not terms that a judge has already approved.
Elliott further wants Kennedy to pay her attorney’s fees in the divorce proceedings. The publicly reported documents do not include a final division of assets, debts, or other marital property. Those issues may be addressed later through negotiations, additional filings, or court decisions.
The petition also does not reveal what led to the separation beyond the claim of irreconcilable differences. Neither a detailed account of the breakup nor allegations of misconduct appeared in the information made public. That leaves the legal requests, the separation date, and the custody position as the clearest confirmed details at this stage.
Their Relationship Began Behind the Scenes
Elliott and Kennedy met in 2013 while working on the comedy film Sex Ed. Kennedy worked behind the camera as a writer and producer, while Elliott appeared in the cast. Their professional connection developed into a romantic relationship, and Kennedy proposed in 2015.
The couple married in eastern Connecticut on September 3, 2016. Their wedding included a church ceremony followed by a reception at the Gothic-style home of Elliott’s parents. Elliott was then widely recognized for her work on Saturday Night Live and the Bravo comedy Odd Mom Out.
Kennedy had also established his career in television writing and production, including work connected to House of Cards. He generally maintained a lower public profile than Elliott, whose acting career regularly placed her at premieres and awards events. The pair nevertheless attended industry gatherings together as Elliott’s television profile grew.
Their wedding began a marriage that lasted just short of a decade before the reported July 8 separation. During that time, both continued working in entertainment while raising their children. The divorce petition provides the first formal outline of the separation contained in the available court reporting.
Parenthood Became a Public Part of Their Story
Elliott and Kennedy welcomed their daughter, Edith Pepper, in October 2020. Elliott had spoken openly about undergoing in vitro fertilization after the couple struggled to conceive naturally. Her comments described a demanding medical process while emphasizing the importance of receiving clear guidance about the treatment they needed.
Their son, William “Billy” Joseph Lunney Kennedy IV, was born in June 2023. Elliott publicly shared his full name, birth date, and weight while celebrating the arrival with an affectionate family message. His birth expanded the household to four as Elliott’s role on The Bear was bringing her wider recognition.
In a 2025 interview about motherhood, Elliott said testing led doctors to recommend IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection, often called ICSI. The treatment involves injecting a sperm cell directly into an egg during fertilization. Elliott said receiving that information early helped the couple avoid losing more time before beginning treatment.
That same year, Edith and William appeared with their mother for a magazine cover focused on family life. Elliott discussed the emotional and physical demands of becoming a parent while balancing an active acting career. Those reflections added a personal dimension to a marriage that had otherwise received less public attention than her professional work.
The custody request now places the children at the center of the practical decisions ahead. Any eventual arrangement may need to address parenting schedules, schooling, travel, medical choices, and holidays. None of those specific arrangements have been publicly confirmed in the current case.
The Filing Comes as The Bear Ends
The news of the divorce arrives during another major transition in Elliott’s public life. The Bear released its fifth and final season on June 25, 2026, closing the acclaimed series that began in 2022. Elliott played Natalie, the business-minded and emotionally burdened sister of chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto.
Natalie became an increasingly important part of the story as the Berzatto family transformed its struggling Chicago sandwich shop into a more ambitious restaurant. Elliott’s performance brought warmth and restraint to a series known for tense kitchens, complicated family bonds, and characters carrying years of grief. The role also gave the longtime comedian one of her most substantial dramatic showcases.
Her work on the series earned her a 2024 Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress on Television. Before joining The Bear, Elliott spent four seasons on Saturday Night Live and later starred in shows including Odd Mom Out and Indebted. Her career before the FX series had largely been built around sketch comedy, sitcoms, and comedic guest roles.
Elliott recently reflected warmly on the ending of The Bear, describing a close bond among the cast and a sense of peace about the characters’ final chapter. The divorce petition now opens a separate transition involving parenting, finances, and the private realities of a family changing shape. Until further filings or an agreement emerge, the confirmed facts remain limited to Elliott’s stated requests and the separation date listed in her petition.
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