United Kingdom, Aug. 4 -- Ioan Gruffudd's long-running legal battle with former wife Alice Evans has moved a step closer to an end after a Los Angeles judge ruled the actor must increase financial support payments.

The ruling comes despite the judge also extending a restraining order against Ioan's ex-wife following findings that she had subjected him and his wife, Bianca Wallace, to years of harassment.

Ioan, 52, best known for playing Reed Richards in Fantastic Four, as well as starring in Hornblower, Liar, Harrow and Titanic, appeared before the Los Angeles superior court during a nine-day hearing in March to resolve outstanding financial disputes stemming from his separation from Alice, 57.

The pair, whose divorce proceedings have ...