Christine Taylor Opens Up About Her “Very Difficult” Separation From Ben Stiller and How They Reunited Years Later

Christine Taylor is reflecting on the painful breakup and reunion with Ben Stiller, calling their 2017 separation “very difficult,” “heavy,” and emotionally challenging. The actress said the decision to pause their marriage was not made lightly, and at the time she felt dejected because it was not how she had imagined their relationship would unfold.

Taylor and Stiller, who married in 2000 after meeting in 1999 on the set of the unaired Fox project Heat Vision and Jack, separated after 17 years of marriage in 2017. They later reconciled during the COVID-19 pandemic, a reunion Stiller confirmed in a 2022 interview. Taylor said the split happened because they were not on the same page in many areas of life, and both were trying hard to make the relationship work before deciding to step back.

In a May 26 appearance on Josh McBride’s The McBride Rewind podcast, Taylor said the couple remained in close contact throughout their separation. Even while living apart, they continued co-parenting and spending time together as a family. She said that connection made the eventual reconciliation feel natural, especially when the pandemic brought the family under one roof for an extended period.

Taylor explained that quarantine gave them time to focus on their relationship in a way they had not been able to before. At the time, their daughter Ella was graduating from high school and their son Quinlin was finishing eighth grade, creating a transitional moment for the entire family. With everyone at home, Taylor and Stiller began therapy sessions over Zoom and worked through their issues together. She described that period as a silver lining during an otherwise difficult time.

The actress said relationship breaks are often seen as a failure, which can make people reluctant to discuss them openly. But in her case, she said the separation ultimately helped both of them grow. She described their reunion as making them “stronger and better than ever,” and said they now make a point to prioritize time together whenever possible.

Taylor noted that Stiller recently drove five hours to visit her on a film set in Montreal, which she said reflected how committed they are to each other now. She said she feels fortunate that they found their way back.

Stiller and Taylor share two children: daughter Ella, 24, and son Quinlin, 20. Their story has become one of Hollywood’s more notable examples of a separation followed by reconciliation, showing how a marriage can evolve over time rather than ending after a difficult chapter.