Ricki Lake took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce the death of her ex-husband and 'soulmate' Christian Evans.
'It is with a heavy heart that I share that my beloved soulmate, Christian Evans has passed. The world didn’t understand this man, but I did. He succumbed to his life long struggle with bipolar disorder,' Lake, 48, wrote in the caption of a photo showing them hugging and smiling at each other.
'For anyone who has ever lost a family member or friend to mental illness, my heart goes out to you. I am a greater person for having known him and spent the past 6 and a half years of my life with him. He was a man of love and what mends my broken heart today is knowing that he is finally at peace and his spirit is free. Rest in peace, my love,' she also stated.
Heavy heart: Ricki Lake took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce the death of her 'soulmate' Christian Evans
No exact cause of death was given.
Lake and jewelry designer Evans started dating in 2010 and married in April 2012. They split in October 2014 as Lake filed for divorce citing 'irreconcilable differences'.
The couple announced in December 2014 that their divorce was on hold, but TMZ reported the divorce was finalized in 2015.
Rest in peace: Christian and Ricki are shown in November 2011 in Los Angeles
Evans during the divorce proceedings claimed that Lake defrauded him while negotiating their prenuptial agreement and tried to have it set aside.
Lake was previously married to illustrator-bartender Rob Sussman from 1994 to 2004.
They have sons Milo, 19, and Owen, 15, together.
Lake hosted the Ricki Lake talk show for 11 seasons from September 1993 to 2004.
Happier times: Ricki and Christian are shown in January 2011 in the Bahamas
She made a cameo in December on NBC's Hairspray Live! after making her film debut playing Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 film version of Hairspray.
Lake appeared earlier this month as a guest judge on the UK talent show Let It Shine on the BBC.
She also competed in 2011 on ABC's Dancing With The Stars and finished in third place behind Rob Kardashian and winner J.R. Martinez.
Beloved soulmate: The Hairspray star, shown in July 2012 with Christian in Los Angeles, announced his death on Instagram
Daily Mail