Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have described their 28-year marriage as the “foundation of their family” as they won rare apologies from American tabloids over false divorce stories.

The couple, who have long been regarded as having one of the most stable relationships in Hollywood, said articles in the National Enquirer and Star magazines were “lies we would not put up with any longer”.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson arriving at the 57th BFI London Film Festival Opening Night Gala European Premiere of Captain Phillips
The Hollywood pair have been married since 1988 (Ian West/PA)

The publications, both owned by American Media Inc, have now apologised for stories that claimed the actors were divorcing and Tom was having an affair.

The couple released a joint statement to The Hollywood Reporter, which Rita linked to on Twitter:

They said: “No true news organisation could report that our marriage is on the brink of breaking up, but American Media Inc, owner of Star and the National Enquirer, often run fabricated stories to sell their tabloids.

“In the past, we laughed off their cover stories of our soon-to-be acrimonious divorce because those stories were so far from true, they were laughable.

“But our marriage is the foundation of our family, is sacred to us, and we couldn’t allow such nonsense as we are about to celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary next April.

Superstar actor Tom Hanks arrives with his wife Rita for West End charity premiere of Apollo 13
Rita and Tom in 1995 (Michael Stephens/PA)

“For Star and National Enquirer to profit by dishonouring what is so precious to us with such falsehoods were, we decided, lies we would not put up with any longer.”

The National Enquirer apologised for a report in the October 10 issue of the magazine, saying it did not intend to claim Tom was having an “inappropriate relationship” with Meg Ryan and was divorcing from Rita.

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks attend the BAFTA Brits
The couple have two sons together (Lionel Hahn/PA)

The magazine said: “We apologise for and regret any implication to the contrary.”

Star also apologised for the October 3 issue, in which it reported Tom was having a relationship with his Inferno co-star Felicity Jones.

Stars Felicity Jones and Tom Hanks attending a photocall for their new film Inferno at the Corinthia Hotel in London.
Tom and Felicity (Ian West/PA)

Rita and Tom married in 1988 and have two sons together.