Ben Stiller Opens Up About His Painful Separation and Emotional Journey Back to His Wife

Ben Stiller has shared rare insight into the emotional years he spent apart from his wife, Christine Taylor, before the two reunited in 2022. The couple’s relationship, once tested by distance and uncertainty, ultimately found its way back to a stronger place.

The 59-year-old Zoolander star and the Brady Bunch alum, now 54, first met in 1999 while working together on the unaired pilot Heat Vision and Jack. Their connection quickly grew off set, and within a year, they were married during a private oceanfront ceremony in Kauai, Hawaii.

Over the years, Stiller and Taylor became one of Hollywood’s most enduring couples, even co-starring in several films and TV shows such as Tropic Thunder, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and Arrested Development.

The couple later welcomed two children — daughter Ella Olivia, now 22, and son Quinlin Dempsey, 19. However, after nearly two decades together, they announced their separation in 2017, surprising fans who had long admired their marriage.

"With tremendous love and respect for each other, and the 18 years we spent together as a couple, we have made the decision to separate."

"Our priority will continue to be raising our children as devoted parents and the closest of friends. We kindly ask that the media respect our privacy at this time," they shared in a joint statement, asking for understanding as they focused on family during that difficult time.

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor met in 1999, and wed in 2000 Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage

In 2022, the couple officially reconciled, and Stiller has since opened up about what that chapter of his life taught him. His recent comments came during the premiere of his new documentary about his parents, legendary comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Ann Meara.

The film, titled Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost, debuted at the New York Film Festival on October 5. It not only explores the comedic legacy of his parents but also delves into Stiller’s own reflections on family, marriage, and the lessons he learned while navigating personal struggles.

In the documentary, the actor and director reflected on how fame and work sometimes distanced him from those he loved most.

Speaking candidly, Stiller admitted that during that time, he felt disconnected from his home life and those closest to him, saying: "My career had been going along for a long time, but things actually weren't great in my personal life."

"I just felt out of balance and unhappy and kind of disconnected from my family, from my kids, and just kind of a little bit lost."

In an earlier interview with The New York Times, Stiller revealed that the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 became an unexpected turning point for him and Taylor, giving them time and space to rebuild their relationship from the ground up.

"It was almost a year of living in the same house before we were actually together," he explained.

"But I'm so grateful for it, and I think not that many people do come back together when they separate."

The actor recalled how lockdown served as the catalyst for his and Taylor's reconciliation LISA O'CONNOR/AFP via Getty Images

According to the Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost documentary, the pair spent nearly five years apart before reuniting and reaffirming their commitment to one another. Their story has since inspired many, showing that even in Hollywood, second chances can lead to lasting happiness.

Beyond his personal life, Stiller has remained outspoken about issues in the entertainment industry. He recently made headlines for defending television host Jimmy Kimmel after Disney temporarily removed Jimmy Kimmel Live! from ABC following comments made about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death.

Authorities later identified the alleged shooter as 22-year-old Utah resident Tyler Robinson, following the fatal incident on September 10.

"We had some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and with everything they can to score political points from it," Kimmel, 57, remarked publicly about the situation.

After the network’s decision to suspend Kimmel’s show, Stiller expressed his frustration online, writing: "This isn't right."

He also joined several other celebrities in signing an open letter organized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), urging Disney to reinstate Kimmel and protect creative expression in the media.

Stiller’s name appeared alongside major Hollywood figures such as Jennifer Aniston, Robert De Niro, and Tom Hanks, among hundreds of others who backed Kimmel’s reinstatement.

Shortly after, Disney confirmed that the show would return to air, stating that the temporary suspension was only meant to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional time for the country.”

For Stiller, both his personal and professional choices seem rooted in empathy and loyalty — qualities that continue to define not only his career but also his enduring relationship with Taylor.