Ben Stiller just opened up about his darkest moment in his new documentary. The Severance director revealed he felt like a complete failure during his 2017 separation from wife Christine Taylor. Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost premiered Oct. 17, 2025 in theaters and streams on Apple TV+ starting Oct. 24.
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🔥 Quick Facts:
- Ben and Christine separated in May 2017 after 17 years of marriage
- “I’m failing at this” – Ben’s reaction comparing himself to his parents’ 60+ year marriage
- The couple reconciled in 2022 after quarantining together during COVID-19 pandemic
- Documentary explores Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara’s decades-long comedy partnership
Ben Stiller’s Painful Confession About Marriage Failure
Ben Stiller didn’t hold back in his documentary about his famous parents. The 59-year-old actor admits he felt like he was failing when his marriage hit the rocks. He compared his situation to his parents’ incredible 60-plus year marriage.
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“When we separated, my feeling was like ‘Oh, I’m failing at this,'” Stiller tells Taylor in the film. “Look at my parents. They have this incredible 50-plus year marriage and I can’t live up to that.”
“My career had been going along for a long time but things actually weren’t great in my personal life. 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.”
The documentary forced Stiller to confront uncomfortable truths about his own relationships. He started examining his parents’ marriage more closely. Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara worked together as the comedy duo Stiller & Meara. They appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show more than 30 times.
Christine Taylor weighs in on their separation in the documentary too. She explains how working together added strain to their marriage. The couple starred in Zoolander, Dodgeball, and Tropic Thunder together.
Why Ben and Christine Split After 17 Years
The couple announced their separation in May 2017. They’d been married since May 2000. They share two children: Ella, 23, and Quinlin, 20.
“With tremendous love and respect for each other, we have made the decision to separate,” they said in 2017. “Our priority will continue to be raising our children as devoted parents.”
Taylor revealed on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2023 that they married quickly. They got engaged after knowing each other for six months. “Family was always a priority, but I think Ben and I both started to grow in different directions,” she said.
The separation lasted “three or four years” according to Stiller. But he insists they stayed connected. “In my mind, I never didn’t want us to be together,” he told The New York Times in January 2025.
How COVID Brought Them Back Together
The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything for the separated couple. Stiller moved back into the family home in March 2020. The goal was spending time with their kids.
| Timeline | Event |
|---|---|
| May 2000 | Ben and Christine marry in Kauai, Hawaii |
| May 2017 | Couple announces separation after 17 years |
| March 2020 | Ben moves back home for pandemic quarantine |
| February 2022 | Couple confirms they’ve reconciled |
| Oct. 17, 2025 | Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost opens in theaters |
“I don’t know where Christine was, you’d have to ask her, but COVID put us all together,” Stiller explained. They lived in the same house for almost a year. But they weren’t officially back together during that time.
“It was almost a year of living in the same house before we were actually together,” he shared. The couple announced their reconciliation in February 2022. Stiller told Esquire at the time: “We were separated and got back together and we’re happy about that.”
What Ben Learned From His Parents’ Marriage
Making the documentary gave Stiller new perspective on relationships. His parents worked together for decades. Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara were married for 62 years until Meara’s death in 2015.
“I started to think about my parents and all the stress,” Stiller admits. “The tension I remember seeing as a kid. The pressure when they were working together and how they stayed together through it.”
The documentary reveals uncomfortable truths about his parents’ marriage too. Anne Meara struggled with drinking. Jerry Stiller’s relentless ambition created tension. The film includes audio recordings where Jerry confronts Anne about her alcohol use.
“I think I wanted to somehow understand how they did it,” Stiller says. His sister Amy Stiller appears in the documentary. She shares her own memories of their parents’ complicated relationship.
Christine Taylor adds important context in the film. “I do feel like there was history,” she tells Ben. “A lot of it was your experience of what that meant for a relationship. It can put extra strain when you’re eating, sleeping, breathing each other.”
Will Ben and Christine’s Marriage Last This Time?
Ben Stiller says the secret to marriage is simple. “You just have to want to be together and want to make it work,” he told E! News at the documentary’s Oct. 5 premiere.
“It’s just about a commitment to the relationship and valuing the relationship,” he added. The couple has appeared together at multiple events since reconciling. They walked the red carpet at the 2025 Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025.
The reconciliation brought new appreciation. “There’s nothing like that, when you come back,” Stiller reflected. “You have so much more appreciation for what you have. Because we know we could not have it.”
Their kids Ella and Quinlin also appear in the documentary. They share their perspectives on having a father consumed by work. Ella, 23, studies drama at Juilliard. Quinlin, 20, has done voice work in animated films.
Can a Hollywood couple truly overcome years of separation? Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor are proving it’s possible. Their story shows that sometimes taking time apart helps you realize what you have. Will their renewed commitment last after the cameras stop rolling?
Sources
- People Magazine – Ben Stiller documentary quotes and family details
- The New York Times – January 2025 interview about separation and reconciliation
- Fox News – Documentary release and relationship timeline
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Daniel Harris is a specialist journalist focused on the crossroads of breaking news, extraordinary history, and enduring legends. With a background in historical research and storytelling, he blends timely reporting with timeless narratives, making complex events and ancient myths resonate with today’s readers. Daniel’s work often uncovers surprising links between present-day headlines and legendary tales, offering unique perspectives that captivate diverse audiences. Beyond reporting, he is passionate about preserving oral traditions and exploring how extraordinary stories continue to shape culture and identity.
Remember when Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor were the ultimate Hollywood power couple? Now, with their separation in the spotlight, its like a plot twist in one of Bens own movies. Who saw this coming in the Stiller-Taylor cinematic universe?
Its like watching a rom-com unfold in real life, huh? The ultimate Hollywood power couple hits a speed bump, and suddenly its all anyone can talk about. The Stiller-Taylor cinematic universe just got a major plot twist, and I bet even Ben Stiller himself didnt see this coming. Who needs movie dramas when youve got celebrity gossip, right? Life imitating art or art imitating life – where does the line blur in Tinseltown? Whats your take on these Hollywood twists and turns?
Anyone else catch Ben Stillers raw honesty in the documentary about his marriage woes? I mean, who knew Zoolander could hit us with all the feels? Wonder if thisll inspire more celebs to get real about their personal struggles. What do you think?
Anyone else catch Ben Stillers raw honesty in that documentary? I mean, who knew even Hollywood heavyweights struggle with marriage? Makes you wonder, whats the secret to making love last in the limelight?
Anyone else catch Ben Stillers raw honesty in that documentary? Its like peeking behind the curtain of Hollywood glamour. Makes you wonder, can fame and success really fill those personal voids? Whats your take on it?
Ever notice how celebrities spill their guts in documentaries like were all their therapists? Ben Stillers marriage confession feels like a tabloid in 3D. Do we really need this level of oversharing, or is it just another way to stay in the limelight?
Ben Stillers like, Let me just air out my dirty laundry on the big screen for all to see. Its like everyones got a reality show these days, except its disguised as a documentary. I mean, do we really need to know every little detail about their personal lives, or is this just another way to keep the fame train chugging along? Are we just feeding into this oversharing culture, or is there some deeper connection were missing here? What do you think – is there a line between being relatable and just plain TMI?
Remember that time Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor were the ultimate Hollywood power couple? Now, its like a rom-com gone wrong. Do you think their public journey will help others navigate their own relationship rollercoasters?