Ben Stiller says his 2017 split from wife Christine Taylor and their 2020 reunion ended up being one of the best things for their family, which includes daughter, Ella, 23, and son, Quinlin, 20.
The “Severance” producer-director spoke to The Sunday Times about his complicated upbringing as the son of comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. He explained how their success impacted him and his sister, Amy, who often stayed home while the couple toured. In the documentary “Stiller and Meara: Nothing Is Lost,” Ben says, “It totally affected us.”
He continued, “I just remember missing them terribly. And when they would come back, my sister and I would act out ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ or something in the lounge. But, then, I probably f***** up more with my kids than my parents did with us … my son tells me that being a dad might not have been at the top of my list.”
The “Zoolander” star continues, “Like any parent, I remember things that weren’t happy about my childhood and go, ‘I’ll do better.’ And then I realized it was impossible to avoid making the mistakes they made. I feel like I have a really great relationship with my kids, but it’s complicated and has at times been strained.”
Stiller realizes how important it is to be present with his children, based on his upbringing, “When they were young, I did not get it. I thought, ‘Oh, the kids are young, I can work away and be a good dad, earning for the family.’ But the bonds you form with your kids when they’re young are so important.”
Recalling how his and Christine’s break-up in 2017 after 17 years of marriage impacted Ella and Quinlin, the “Meet the Parents” actor said, “That was a strain on my relationship with the kids. And I’d think, ‘Well, my parents never did that.’ But a long relationship is hard. You lose the freshness. I feel bad about what us breaking up did to the kids, but it was possibly the best thing to happen to Christine and me. It changed our relationship.”
Ben did not expect to reunite with Christine in 2020, and he thinks their three-year separation had a positive effect on their relationship.
The “Night at the Museum” star said, “We don’t take it for granted anymore, and if you are happy, you’re going to be a better parent. You have hurdles and try to figure it out, and if you stay, all you can do is acknowledge the past and try to repair. That’s what we have in our family. It’s not perfect — at all. But that’s just life.”
