Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Rash of Hollywood Splits Sends Shudders Through Tinsel Town/Bob Harper Presses Activism Against Factory Farming

So now it's Courteney Cox and David Arquette.

The old wives' tale goes that death comes in threes. But what can we say about the string of splits among couples of long standing in Hollywood? They're not just changing partners; some of them seem to be changing personalities as well. Is it another sign of the end times coming?

Their shared screwball humor couldn't keep Cox and Arquette together after 11 years of marriage — or Arquette from his stunningly disappointing appearance on Howard Stern's radio show this week, mouthing off about their lack of a sex life, and about his extra-marital "conquest." This certainly doesn't jibe with the thoughtful and dignified announcement of their split that stressed their ongoing commitment to their 6-year-old daughter — or with Arquette's nice-guy image of the past. He described Cox as being tired of having to be his mother. That explains a lot.

Their political stands, social consciousness and artistic collaboration weren't enough to keep intact couple of 23 years Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. "Maybe you have a relationship to have children and you realize that it's fulfilled after that," Sarandon said of their split last year. She also said she never imagined the relationship would end. She has, of course, since been linked with "pingpong boy" — the co-owner of their Manhattan Spin pingpong club — 32-year-old Jonathan Bricklin, though both have given half-baked denials. (She's seeing a lot of friends these days, etc.) As we await their reality show — really! — we can add that Robbins, too, has been seen with a younger date on his arm.

Bradley Whitford and Jane Kaczmarek, wed for 17 years, recently got their final divorce papers. He grew a mustache and moved to Texas for his "The Good Guys" show, while she is focusing on mothering their three children and dating someone new.

Cameron Crowe and Heart's Nancy Wilson split this summer after 24 years. Although their unions were shorter, the last few days have brought surprise celebrity splits by thought-to-be-happy couples Ben Harper and Laura Dern, and Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman.

So now to whom do we look as enduring show business couples?

Happily, there are still quite a few around — like Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.

Married since 1954, the comedy icons are still going strong with their new Web series, "Stiller & Meara." Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman have been husband and wife for 28 years; Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson for 22; Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan, 22 years; John Travolta and Kelly Preston, 19 years; and Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, married 21 years. When Sedgwick said her heart still skips a beat whenever Bacon walks into a room, romantics everywhere went "Aww." Long may they swoon.

ANIMAL INSTINCTS: Trainer Bob Harper is too deep into "Biggest Loser" shooting to be on hand for the New York City Walk for Farm Animals Oct. 24, but makes it clear he'll be there in spirit. Earlier this year, Harper became the first-ever celebrity spokesman for the Farm Sanctuary organization that seeks to stop the horrifying treatment of animals in factory farm operations. Finding the time "was kind of difficult, but I definitely wanted to put my name on it, to help with that cause," says Harper, who went vegan earlier this year and grew up on a good old-fashioned, non-factory farm. Today, he says, "Chances are, if you're buying meat at a local grocery store, it's factory farmed."

How does NBC feel about his activism?

"Well, I'm sure they always get a little nervous, but when you find yourself in a situation where you can work for not only the environment, but humane treatment of animals, something you believe in, you have to do it."

TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE: Disney Channel cutie Chelsea Staub tells us she's been having so much fun lending her voice to the animated "Fish Hooks," in which she plays a goldfish named Bee, that "I'm taking care of my voice and hoping we have a nice, long run. That would be awesome. I grew up on Disney cartoons, so to be a part of that legacy is really great, almost a surreal experience." She doesn't know the future of "Jonas L.A.," in which she co-stars with the Jonas Brothers, but does say, "A year from now, I hope I'm doing series work — a network half-hour sitcom or a drama on Showtime, or whatever it may be. I really enjoy being on a series, the camaraderie, the feeling of being in a family."

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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