Ben Stiller is opening up about how his parents’ relationship has influenced his own marriage to Christine Taylor. Stiller, 59, shared insights in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, published on February 5, emphasizing that he felt he replicated some behaviors exhibited by his late father, Jerry Stiller, towards his late mother, Anne Meara, after he and Taylor, 53, married in 2000. “You start making movies, and if they don’t go well, that would affect me,” Ben recalled.
Ben and Christine, who share a daughter, Ella, 22, and a son, Quinlin, 19, notably separated in 2017. However, they reunited during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. “I didn’t expect we were going to get back together,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “But when we broke up, there was a part of me that wasn’t ready to just give up on it. Probably a certain amount of that is having watched my parents. And I love Christine, I love my family, and I was not ready to just go, ‘OK, enough of this.’”
Ben’s parents, Jerry and Anne, gained fame as the comedy duo Stiller & Meara in the 1960s. He explained that his father was dedicated to transforming their relationship into a successful comedy act. “And my mom didn’t really love that as much, but she was really good at it, and that affected their relationship,” he added, reflecting on the complexities of their partnership.
Despite the challenges, Ben continues to work actively as a director and producer, particularly on Apple TV+’s Severance and in recent films like Nutcrackers. Nevertheless, he expressed the desire to find a better balance between his professional and family life. “Sometimes I have to be pulled from it,” he said. “I also really love hanging out with my family and Christine and having fun together. So I’m happy that I didn’t totally miss the boat on that.”
Stiller recounted the story of his reconciliation with Taylor during a January 16 appearance on The View. “I don’t know how it happened other than we both wanted it,” he reflected. “Now, every day that we’re together, we do not take [it] for granted,” he emphasized, noting the importance of their renewed bond. “At least, I know I don’t, because you know it could go away, and that to me is the gift for our relationship is that we have that every day, and I really am so happy that we’re together.”
This reflection by Ben Stiller highlights the significance of understanding familial relationships and their potential influence on one’s own life. As he navigates his marriage and family dynamics, his experiences serve as a reminder of the ongoing challenges and rewards found in love and commitment. The journey of Stiller and Taylor reiterates the importance of cherishing moments spent together, as they now embrace their renewed relationship with gratitude and understanding.
