Ben Stiller and wife Christine Taylor's relationship timeline explored after the actor opens up about getting back together after their separation

Actor and director Ben Stiller shared insights into his rekindled relationship with his wife Christine Taylor, in a candid interview with The New York Times on January 13, 2025. The couple, married since May 2000, separated in 2017 but reconciled during the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually moving back together.

Ben Stiller, 59, revealed that the time apart deepened their appreciation for their marriage.

"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," Stiller explained.

He admitted that although the separation lasted for three to four years, their connection never truly faded. "In my mind, I never didn't want us to be together," he added.

The couple shares two children, Ella, 22, and Quinlin, 19, and despite their separation, they maintained their family dynamic. Taylor previously described their separation as a necessary step to rediscover themselves individually, stating,

"That time apart for each of us to sort of get to know who we are—I think we have these growth spurts even as adults."

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Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor's relationship timeline

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor first crossed paths in 1999 while working on the pilot for Heat Vision and Jack, a project that ultimately never aired. Their connection was instant, and within months, they were dating. By May 2000, the couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Kauai, Hawaii.

Reflecting on their whirlwind romance, Stiller told Parade in 2016, "I turned around one day and said, 'Wow, I’m happy with her. We connect. I’m enjoying being with her all the time!'"

Over the years, the duo became frequent collaborators, starring together in films like Zoolander (2001), Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004), and Tropic Thunder (2008). They welcomed Ella in 2002 and Quinlin in 2005.

In May 2017, the couple announced their separation after 17 years of marriage, citing differences that had grown over time. Christine Taylor, speaking on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2023, admitted they had "started to grow in different directions" but emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly.

Despite their separation, the family remained close, with Taylor noting, "We always stayed a family unit."

The turning point in their relationship came during the COVID-19 pandemic when circumstances led them to live under the same roof again. Ben Stiller described the process as gradual, sharing that it took nearly a year of cohabitation before they officially reconciled.

"There’s nothing like that, when you come back. You have so much more appreciation for what you have because we know we could not have it," he remarked.

Their reunion became public knowledge in February 2022 when Ben Stiller told Esquire,

"We were separated and got back together, and we’re happy about that. It’s been really wonderful for all of us."

Ben Stiller remains active in the entertainment industry, notably directing and producing the acclaimed series Severance in 2022.