Perelman, Barkin settle dispute over movie studio in divorce battle

Ellen Barkin and Ronald Perelman













Birds are falling out of the sky in Arkansas, fish are going belly up in Brazil, and now warring former spouses Ron Perelman and "Sea of Love" star Ellen Barkin have buried the hatchet.

The billionaire Revlon boss and his former leading lady have settled their ugly dueling lawsuits over her movie production company, court records show.

"The case is settled. All the claims are dismissed. It's gone away," said Barkin's lawyer, Jacob Buchdahl.

A spokeswoman for Perelman, Christine Taylor, declined comment.

The last round in the hotly contested litigation over Applehead Pictures went to Barkin last month, when an appeals court ruled that Perelman was on the hook for the over $4 million he'd agreed to pay into the company just before they split.

The powder puff poohbah had postulated that he shouldn't have to pay a penny because Barkin had violated the terms of their 2006 divorce deal by blabbing about their nasty break up to New York magazine. He also contended she was in default for having failed to obtain a get, a Jewish religious divorce.

The Appellate Division found the Applehead agreement and the divorce deal were completely separate transactions, and regardless, there was no evidence Barkin had violated the agreement.

The five judge panel pointed out that Barkin wasn't quoted in the New York story, which said she'd "declined multiple requests to comment," and pointed out that their separation agreement said she would cooperate in obtaining a get, not that she had to initiate getting one.

They also noted that despite his stated sense of urgency, "Perelman himself did not do anything to advance proceedings before the religious tribunals until April 2008, which was two years after the divorce."

Perelman, who tied the knot to wife five Dr. Anna Chapman in November, had indicated he'd fight Barkin to the end. After the Appellate Division ruling, his spokeswoman said, "We still maintain Ms. Barkin should not be entitled to any additional money beyond the enormous settlement she received" in their divorce case.

That settlement, which court papers show bagged Barkin over $20 million, didn't buy an amicable split. Barkin made headlines soon after their split by auctioning off all the jewelry Perelman had given her for $20 million, and then throwing a drink of water in his face when they bumped into each other at the Waverly Inn.