Back in May and June, there were some rumors going around that Meg Ryan had started dating one of her longtime friends, a major Oscar-winning producer named Graham King. King has credits including The Departed, The Aviator, Blood Diamond, and the upcoming releases of Young Victoria (starring Emily Blunt) and The Rum Diary (starring Johnny Depp). It seemed like a good, low-key match for Meg, and just as soon as the dating rumors rose, they kind of fell away.

Now we know why – it seems Graham King is still very much a married man. He’s been married for 25 years, and he has two daughters. Before everyone yells “Yikes! Homewrecker! Burn her!” there seems to be some extenuating circumstances. Sort of. Graham lives in a home close to the home his wife and daughters share – so they seem to be informally separated, but technically still married. King’s wife seems to think they’re very much married though – and she denies King’s romance with Meg. Okay, I’ll say it. “Yikes.”

Romance with married mega-rich Hollywood producer could help Meg’s struggling career!

Sleepless in Seattle star Meg Ryan is dating hot-shot movie producer Graham King – but they’re trying to keep their romance under cover because he’s a married man, The ENQUIRER has learned.

When reports surfaced in June that 47-year-old Meg had a new man in her life, they revealed only half the story.

“They left out the fact that Graham’s been married 25 years, has two daughters – and has been secretly dating Meg the last six months!” said a longtime friend of the producer.

After spending time with Meg, King often returns home to see his wife Valerie and his kids, revealed the friend – who insists Valerie is in denial about the romance. In an exclusive interview at her home, Valerie told The ENQUIRER: “Graham’s not dating Meg Ryan. He’s with me.”

When questioned why her husband lived elsewhere and is said to want a divorce, she replied: “That’s not true. We were separated for a little while. We are back together. Graham is with me. He lives at our house. We’re together. We’re a happy family… We’re not getting a divorce.”

Valerie lives with the children in a $10 million Pacific Palisades, Calif., home, while her producer-hubby rents a mansion down the road on the beach for a whopping $25,000 a month, according to the friend.

And Ryan star seems more than willing to put up with the odd romance – which could boost her faltering career.

“Graham is not being deceitful with Meg. She knows his wacky situation is far from perfect,” said the friend. “But being involved with King may be her Hollywood salvation.”

[From the National Enquirer]

I don’t think much of Meg Ryan, but I doubt she’s dating a man just to revitalize her career. Sources keep saying how Meg and Graham have been friends for years, so I suspect they are dating because their friendship blossomed into something more. But what’s the deal with this guy’s marriage status? And why in the world would his wife give an interview to the Enquirer? This is all very sketchy.

Here’s Meg with daughter Daisy in May. Header of Meg at the Tribecca film festival in April, and Graham King at the Oscars in 2007. Images thanks to WENN.com .