Ben Stiller reveals separation from wife of two decades caused him to feel ‘disconnected’ from his family in new documentary

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Ben Stiller shared that he felt distanced from his family while he and his wife were separated.

In his new documentary, the 59-year-old actor opened up about his short split from his wife, Christine Taylor, saying he felt unhappy and directionless during that period.

He openly shared that he was having difficulties in his personal life just as his acting career was beginning to flourish.

He shared in his documentary, Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost, that while his career was steady, his personal life hadn’t been easy.

In the movie about his parents, comedy legends Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, he shared that he was feeling lost, unhappy, and disconnected from his family and children.

Ben Stiller has two children with his wife, who he married in 2000. They briefly separated in 2017 after almost 17 years of marriage, but they have since gotten back together.

The director of *Severance* shared at the film’s premiere on Sunday, during the New York Film Festival, that the idea for the documentary came to him after his father passed away in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. He had faced criticism earlier this year for a tweet he made.

He also mentioned moving back in with his family, which helped them reconnect and rebuild their relationship.

At the premiere of his documentary, per People, he revealed the impact their separation had on him.

He also shared that they were separated for around three or four years before reconnecting and building a life together again, eventually raising their children, 23-year-old Ella Olivia Stiller and 20-year-old Quinlin Dempsey Stiller.

He told the New York Times in January that their separation was a way to figure out what their relationship meant, what his life was like without it, and how much he valued their family.

In his book, *Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost*, Ben Stiller shared memories of being raised in New York City with his sister, Amy, and their well-known parents.

You know, I was chatting with him at the premiere, and he shared the really personal story behind the film. He and his sister were actually in the process of selling their childhood home when the idea for the movie struck. It’s a beautiful, intimate project, and it also offers a sweet peek into his relationship with Taylor.

He shared that watching his parents resolve disagreements helped him and his wife repair their relationship.

He recalled growing up seeing a lot of stress and tension between his parents, especially when they worked together, and wondered how they managed to stay together despite it all.

‘I think I wanted to somehow understand how they did it,’ he later added.

After being separated for a while, Ben Stiller and his wife were seen together several times. They officially confirmed they had reconciled in February 2022.

As a long-time fan, I was really moved by the documentary. It included amazing home movies shot by the Stiller family themselves, and even recordings of their father’s voice. It felt so personal and gave a real glimpse into their lives.

Jerry and Anne quickly fell in love after meeting in 1953 and got married shortly thereafter. 

They were married for over 60 years when Anne passed away in 2015. 

This comedic pair became well-known in the 1960s, and throughout their careers, they performed on The Ed Sullivan Show an impressive 36 times.

In 2007, they were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

Stiller talked about his parents’ marriage following his father Jerry’s death in 2020. 

He shared with the Today show that they reconnected and are now supporting each other. He admitted it was a touching moment, saying they seem close again.

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2025-10-06 06:05