Ben Stiller Reveals the Secret to Marriage With Christine Taylor

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Ben Stiller kept the faith when it came to Christine Taylor.

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, who share two children, Ella, 23, and Quinlin, 20, separated in 2017 but later reconciled. Ben believes he knows what helped them make their relationship work long-term.

He shared with TopMob News at the premiere of his documentary, *Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost*, that the key to a lasting relationship is simply wanting to be together and being committed to making it work. He believes this is the most important factor.

Working on a documentary about his parents, comedians Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller, was a deeply insightful experience for the 59-year-old. He realized it offered him a new perspective on his own life and relationships. The film will be released in theaters on October 17th and on Apple TV+ on October 24th.

“It’s just about a commitment to the relationship,” Ben added, “and valuing the relationship.”

Honestly, seeing Edward Waters and Christine both *want* to make things work just fills me with so much happiness! It wasn’t like he was the only one trying, you know? It was a two-way street, and hearing that Christine, bless her, felt the same way… it just makes my heart soar. They both cared, and that’s everything!

Ben said he felt fortunate that both he and the other person recognized the value of their relationship and were committed to making it last.

As he mentioned before, their decision to separate after 17 years of marriage actually made them appreciate their relationship even more.

After my separation, I really needed some breathing room to figure things out. I wanted to understand what my life looked like *without* being in that relationship, and honestly, how much I valued the family we’d built. It wasn’t a clean break, though – we remained connected for about three or four years, even while living apart. It was a period of self-discovery, and a way to reassess what we both wanted.

Plus, Ben wasn’t quite ready to fully separate from Christine.

Honestly, I always, *always* thought we were meant to be. He said it himself! I mean, he never saw a time when we *weren’t* together. I don’t really know what was going on with Christine, you’d have to ask her, but it’s like fate stepped in – COVID forced everyone to stay at home, and that’s when we all ended up living together. It was crazy, but it brought us together, you know?

After a year of living together again with their kids, the couple decided to give it another go.

Coming back home is amazing,” Ben exclaimed. “You really value everything you have so much more because you realize how easily it could be taken away.

For a deep dive into Ben and Christine’s marriage and family, keep reading.

—Reporting by Nikaline McCarley

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor have been married since 2000 and separated in 2017, but they never officially divorced. After spending time together with their children, Ella and Quinlin, during the pandemic, they decided to get back together.

Ella frequently joins her father, Ben, at industry events. For example, she attended the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2023 for the premiere of a short film starring her mother, Christine, and the family coordinated their outfits in shades of black.

She’s also been Ben’s date to several other premieres and events, including the 2022 Emmys, the premieres of Free Solo in 2018 and The Meyerowitz Stories in 2017, and the opening night of the Broadway musical Groundhog Day.

In 2019, Ella and Ben attended the Golden Globes together to support Escape to Dannemora, a Showtime miniseries for which Ben was nominated for Outstanding Directing.

Ben recently shared his experience working with his daughter, Ella, on the set of *Escape to Dannemora*. He told TopMob he was “very proud” of her and happy with how things went. The *Zoolander* actor explained that Ella treated him with a lot of respect, which he especially appreciated given the typical dynamic between a father and teenage daughter. He joked about wanting to present a better version of their relationship on set, and ultimately described the experience as very positive for both of them.

Ella has appeared in a few films, including small roles in *Escape to Dannemora*, *Hubie Halloween*, and *Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb*. Her parents have been supportive of her interest in acting. Ben mentioned in 2019 that Ella seemed eager to pursue an acting career, and Christine told *Us Weekly* in 2018 that she never tried to dissuade her daughter from following in their footsteps. Christine explained that Ella was determined from the start and loves performing. Living in New York City has also exposed her to a lot of different experiences, fueling her passion, though Christine maintains she didn’t actively encourage it.

Ben recently shared that his daughter, Ella, had talked to him about feeling like he wasn’t around enough when she was growing up, due to his work commitments. He told *Esquire* that it’s difficult to hear, as she’s able to clearly express her feelings, and it reminded him of his own childhood with his parents, actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, who were often absent. He’d always intended to avoid repeating that pattern.

While it wasn’t easy to hear Ella express these feelings, Ben emphasized the importance of acknowledging them. He also explained that he was trying to balance pursuing his own ambitions with being a good father.

Ben clarified that Ella and her brother, Quinlin, weren’t focused on tracking his work absences; they simply wanted more quality time with him. He realized that children aren’t concerned with their parents’ careers. What they truly want is an emotionally available and supportive parent – perhaps even more than they want their parent to be creatively successful.

Ben Affleck shared on *The Late Show With Stephen Colbert* that his daughter Ella turned him into a big Taylor Swift fan. He explained that playing Swift’s music helped calm both of them during her driving lessons. While he was familiar with her music before, he now considers himself a “total Swiftie.” He detailed how they listened to albums like *Folklore* and *Evermore*, and he was particularly fascinated by the interconnected stories in songs like ‘Cardigan,’ ‘Betty,’ and ‘August,’ which are inspired by the children of Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. He even mentioned being impressed by Taylor’s 10-minute version of ‘All Too Well’ from her vault.

After filming *Tropic Thunder* with Ben in 2007, Christine decided to step away from acting to concentrate on raising their children. She explained in a 2010 interview with *The Morning Call* that becoming a mother to Ella completely changed her perspective. She felt an overwhelming amount of love and wanted to be fully present for her child, especially since Ben worked so much. She felt it was important for one parent to provide stability for the family. In a 2016 interview with *Parade*, Ben expressed how grateful he was for Christine’s decision.

Over ten years ago, Ben and Christine decided to follow a plant-based diet and encourage their children to do the same. Christine shared with *People* magazine in 2012 that their kids initially reacted with disbelief when they made healthy green drinks, joking that she wished they would just try it! She also noted that their children have opposite preferences – their daughter enjoys vegetables but not fruit, while their son prefers fruit over vegetables. Despite the initial resistance, Christine remains optimistic, believing that their kids will eventually appreciate their healthy lifestyle, just as children often come to admire their parents’ choices later in life. They’re simply planting the seeds for a healthier future.

Ella frequently joins her parents at events, but Quinlin typically avoids public appearances. He did, however, attend the Project A.L.S. Benefit in 2018 with his family. His mother, Christine, told *Us Weekly* that this was his first event and he was simply enjoying himself. She explained that their daughter had attended the previous year and encouraged him to come, and that it was special to share the occasion with their close-knit group of friends who have watched their children grow up together for two decades.

Quinlin joined the celebration at the Project ALS 25th Anniversary Gala in 2023. Ben and Christine have always made sure to share the causes they care about with their children. Christine, who serves on the board of directors for Project ALS, told *Us Weekly* in 2018 that it meant a lot to her when their kids came to an event, even on a school night. She appreciated that they could have fun, get dressed up, and learn about such a wonderful organization.

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2025-10-06 22:18