The actress' husband, Johnathon Schaech, got the ball rolling by filing for divorce Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences.
Reps for the pair issued a joint statement Tuesday confirming that the split was underway.
"After four years of marriage, actors Johnathon Schaech and Christina Applegate have filed for divorce," the statement read. "The decision is mutual. We have no further comment at this time."
Schaech, who appeared alongside Tom Hanks in 1996's That Thing You Do!, traded vows with the erstwhile Married...with Children star during a small ceremony in Palm Springs on Oct. 20, 2001.
The couple dated for four years before taking the matrimonial plunge.
"We're best friends," Applegate once said of her beau in happier days. "And that spark is always there. I can't wait to see him, even though I saw him a few hours ago."
Since shedding her ditzy alter ego Kelly Bundy, whom she portrayed from 1987 to 1997, Applegate has gone on to forge a successful career both on the big screen, and more recently, the stage.
She also earned the Emmy for Best Guest Actress in a Comedy in 2003 for her turn as Jennifer Aniston's wacky sister on Friends in the episode "The One Where Rachel's Sister Babysits."
Over the past several months, Applegate has shown she's good for more than just a laugh with her leading role in the Broadway musical Sweet Charity, which required her to sing and dance, and even garnered her a Tony nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.
As Applegate's Broadway run winds down, Britney Spears was rumored to be in consideration to take her place as Charity Hope Valentine, a dance hall hostess on a seemingly hopeless quest for love and self-improvement. However, the pop queen and new mom has since reportedly passed on the offer.
Meanwhile, Schaech, who starred alongside Applegate in the television adaptation of Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas in March, is next slated to appear in the action film Road House 2: Last Call. The project is currently in preproduction, per IMDb.com, and is expected to be released sometime next year.
In preparation for his upcoming courtroom drama, Schaech has reportedly hired high-powered divorce attorney Laura Wasser to represent him, according to TMZ.com.