After 21 years together, Leah Remini and Angelo Pagán have announced their separation. The married couple, who tied the knot in 2003, shared their decision via a joint Instagram post on August 29. In the message, they expressed, “This decision came after a lot of thought and care, and as hard as divorce is, we are approaching this with a positive outlook because we know it’s what’s best for us.” They included a couple of photos showcasing their journey together.
Leah Remini and Angelo Pagán have frequently appeared alongside each other in various sitcoms and a TLC reality series. They first met in 1996 while Pagán was performing at the Cuban club El Floridita in Los Angeles, a connection Remini described as “love at first sight.” Over the years, he made guest appearances on her shows like CBS’s “The King of Queens,” “Kevin Can Wait,” and “Fired Up,” and they starred in two seasons of “Leah Remini: It’s All Relative” from 2014 to 2015.
Pagán has maintained his career as a performer, currently co-hosting events around Los Angeles. His Instagram bio lists him as “actor, singer, producer and entrepreneur” as well as “the world’s greatest dad.” His acting credits also include roles in “Bosch: Legacy,” “Shameless,” and “The Last Ship,” alongside films such as “Garlic & Gunpowder” (2017) and “7th and Union” (2021).
In addition to his entertainment career, Pagán is involved in family business ventures, co-owning a restaurant called Vivian’s Millennium Café in Studio City, California, with Remini’s mother and stepfather. The café was featured in their TLC series, with Pagán promoting his love for salsa music and fine dining on the café’s website.
Pagán appeared in various roles on “The King of Queens,” totaling six episodes, where he played characters including Rico, a co-worker of Doug’s, and Dr. Garcia.
Born and raised in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, Pagán has a daughter, Sofia Bella, born in 2004, with Remini. On Instagram, he expressed pride in Sofia’s achievements during her prom, highlighting her mother’s impressive party planning skills. Pagán also has three adult sons from a previous relationship.
Reflecting on their relationship’s start, Remini described early challenges in her 2015 memoir, “Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology,” where she labeled Pagán as a “serial cheater.” Despite this, she spoke of their connection as “instant magic.” Remini revealed that Pagán was initially married when they met, which led to a complicated beginning as she sought to encourage him to reconcile with his wife, as influenced by the Church of Scientology.
Eventually, Pagán realized he was “living a lie,” leading to their union six years later after Remini left the Church in 2013. She remarked on their initial struggles during interviews, acknowledging counseling helped them navigate their challenges, and noted, “the truth of the matter is, he is my rock.”