Ben Stiller Opens Up About Family Disconnection During Separation

Ben Stiller Spills on His Family Drama: "I Felt Disconnected" from Wife and Kids Amid Secret Separation

In a candid confession, Ben Stiller, 59, revealed how his brief separation from wife Christine Taylor left him feeling "lost" and "unhappy." The actor opened up about the dark period in their marriage during an exclusive interview at the premiere of his new documentary, Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost.

The film, which follows the life story of Ben's famous parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, delves into the family's history, including their tumultuous relationship. Ben shared that he was struggling with his personal life at the same time his acting career was taking off. "My career had been going along for a long time, but things actually weren't that great in my personal life," he admitted.

Ben and Christine were married in 2000 and share two children together. However, the couple separated in 2017 after nearly two decades of marriage. But what went down during their secret separation? Ben revealed that they had been apart for "three or four years" before finding their way back to each other in the family home.

"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," he confessed. But what triggered this breakdown? Ben pointed fingers at his own ambition, saying, "I was so focused on my career that I didn't prioritize my family."

The couple's separation was a tumultuous time for their children, Ella Olivia Stiller, 23, and Quinlin Dempsey Stiller, 20. But it seems like the experience had a profound impact on Ben, as he began to reevaluate his priorities. "When we separated, it was just having space to see what our relationship was, what my life felt like when we weren't in that relationship, how much I loved our family unit," he told The New York Times earlier this year.

Ben's decision to leave the family home must have been a difficult one for Christine and the kids. But the family drama doesn't end there. Ben revealed that their separation was triggered by his own feelings of disconnection from his wife and children. "I think I just needed some space, you know? And I think we both did," he said.

But what ultimately led to their reunion? According to Ben, it was a combination of soul-searching and reflecting on his parents' relationship. "I started to think about my parents and all the stress and tension I remember seeing as a kid, and the pressure when they were working together, and how they stayed together through it," he said.

The Stiller family's history is a fascinating one. Jerry and Anne met in 1953 and got married shortly after. They rose to fame together in the 1960s and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show 36 times during their careers. But behind the scenes, their relationship was far from perfect. Ben revealed that his parents' marriage was marked by tension and stress, but they always managed to find a way back to each other.

In fact, Jerry's death in 2020 had a profound impact on Ben. "They found each other and they were there for each other," he said, reflecting on his parents' enduring love. "Not to get too sappy, but I feel like they're connected again."

Ben & Meara: Nothing Is Lost is set to screen in select theaters beginning October 17 and will be available to stream on Apple TV+ on October 24.

Sources:

• The New York Times
• People Magazine