Without a Trace Star Anthony LaPaglia Files for Divorce From Wife Gia Carides

Australian actors have a 12-year-old daughter, Bridget, together

Unlike some things, Hollywood breakups tend to leave a paper trail.

Anthony LaPaglia has filed for divorce from actress wife Gia Carides after more than 16 years of marriage, according to court documents filed Friday and obtained by E! News.

The Without a Trace star cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and he's asking for joint custody of their 12-year-old daughter, Bridget Amelia Banks Carides LaPaglia.

LaPaglia is also OK with the court awarding his ex spousal support, the actor checking off a box that we don't see too many celebs checking off these days. The separation of their other assets is TBD, per the filing.

The Australian actors tied the knot on Sept. 11, 1998.

In addition to Without a Trace, which ended in 2009 after seven seasons on CBS and for which he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama Series in 2004, LaPaglia is best known for films such as Empire Records, Lantana, Happy Feet, The Client and Betsy's Wedding, and a recurring role on Frasier as Daphne's ne'er-do-well brother, Simon.

Carides was in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the short-lived TV show based on the hit movie; she guest-starred on Without a Trace in 2005.

Talking about family and marriage with the Sydney Morning Herald in 2009, LaPaglia said, "Our family is the embodiment of the Italian saying: 'Men are the head of the family and women are the neck—they control the head.' Between Gia and Bridget, I'm outgunned. As a guy, I try to be always straight with my girls.

"I don't lie and I aim to be consistent. If I say I'm going to do it, I do it, and if I'm not sure, I don't promise it. But women establish one set of rules for their men and another set for themselves. At our place neither is conducive to my lying on the couch reading the newspaper. Take the concept of time. I'll be 20 minutes late and all hell breaks loose. Gia can be three hours late and I'll just shrug. With women, I've learned it's better to beg for forgiveness rather than to ask permission."