Tom Cruise was apparently “blindsided” by wife Katie Holmes filing for divorce.

The actress submitted the documents to formally end her marriage in New York yesterday citing “irreconcilable differences”.

She is asking for sole legal custody and “primary residential custody” of their six year-old daughter, Suri.

TMZ also reports that Katie is requesting a “suitable amount” of child support and asking for their property to be divided up although they have a prenuptial agreement in place.

Tom’s representative released a statement following the news breaking today of the split.

“Katie has filed for divorce and Tom is deeply saddened and is concentrating on his three children,” the message read. “Please allow them their privacy to work this out.”

Tom is currently in Iceland filming sci-fi movie Oblivion while Katie has remained in New York.

The announcement of the split also comes just four days before Tom celebrates his 50th birthday on 3 July.

The Mission Impossible actor has two children from his second marriage to Nicole Kidman, Isabella and Connor. His three-year union to Mimi Rogers ended in 1990.