Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor's Relationship Timeline

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: KMazur/WireImage

After a five-year separation,Ben StillerandChristine Taylorare back together and still going strong.

The couple first met in 1999 andwed less than a year later, with Stiller tellingEntertainment Tonightin 2007 that he knew pretty quickly she was “the one.” According to the comedian, “When I met her, I pretty much thought, ‘That’s the person.’ It was like, ‘Wow, this is a great person. I love her.’ "

They also welcomed two children,Ella Olivia and Quinlin Dempsey, in 2002 and 2005. The duo remained low-key until theyannounced their separationin May 2017. After they werespottedtogethermultiple timesafter their split, the coupleannounced they were reunitingin February 2022.

From sharing screen time to a brief separation, here’s everything to know about Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor’s relationship.

In 2016, Stiller opened up about how their first meeting quickly turned into a first date, tellingParade, “I was directing a pilot for Fox, starringJack Black, calledHeat Vision and Jack[1999]. My wife came in to audition for the role of the sexy sheriff. She had been in theBrady Bunchmovies and they were pushing her on me. She came in and she was great … I was single. I’d come out of a long relationship with [actress]Jeanne Tripplehorn. Christine was coming out of a relationship too. We went on a date and it clicked. We were both on the rebound. And we just jumped.”

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

“We just started hanging out with each other and it developed into, ‘Wow, this feels great. I really like this person. I think I love this person. I really do — Ilovethis person,’ " Stiller continued. “It hit me out of the blue.”

May 13, 2000: Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor get married in Kauai, Hawaii

PEOPLE reported that the coupletied the knotat an oceanfront residence in Hawaii after a six-month engagement. Of their romance, Stiller toldParadein 2016, “We got married pretty quickly. I turned around one day and said, ‘Wow, I’m happy with her. We connect. I’m enjoying being with her all the time!’ It just felt right.”

Of their engagement, theSeverancedirector toldParadein 2013 that it mirrored his on-screen proposal inMeet the Parents. “I proposed to Christine when I was rehearsingMeet the Parents …I asked her father for permission before I did it … It was likeMeet the Parentsin real life, because Christine’s father is an intimidating guy who owns a security company; we’re good friends now, but at the time I was in the basement rec room saying, ‘I really would like to marry your daughter …’ He’s a man of few words but he was very welcoming. I was more nervous asking him than asking her.”

September 2001: Christine Taylor stars as Ben Stiller’s love interest inZoolander

Paramount/courtesy Everett Collection

Marking their first big screen collaboration, Taylor starred as Stiller’s love interest in the cult comedyZoolander, playing journalist Matilda Jeffries to Stiller’s titular male model.

April 9, 2002: Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor welcome their first child

Taylor gave birth to thecouple’s first child, daughterEllaon April 9, 2002. In 2004,Taylor told PEOPLEof their daughter: “It’s not even funny how much (Ella) is like Ben. She’s definitely a ham.”

June 2004: Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller appear in another movie together

Taylor and Stiller made their second big screen appearance together in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. Of their roles in the comedy, Stiller toldIGNin 2004, “It was fun. We had fun, we were laughing a lot, we got to spend time together which was good. When you’re working, you don’t get to do that. And she, we just connect on that level … We laugh at the same things, so it was actually really fun and therapeutic. It’s always good to throw balls at each other. It would be good therapy, good couples therapy.”

“It was just a great experience all round,” Taylor added. “I mean, we had a blast.” She also noted it was a “very different dynamic” than when they filmedZoolanderprior to becoming new parents.

“This is the first movie we did together since having our daughter, so there were endless challenges personally,” said Taylor. “When we didZoolander, we were newly married … It was sort of almost an extended honeymoon.”

July 10, 2005: Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor welcome their second child

In 2009, Stillerexplained to PEOPLEthat Quinlin completed their family. “Two is a handful. I feel very fortunate and blessed,” he said.

August 2008: Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller team up again forTropic Thunder

Kevin Winter/Getty

Stiller tapped his wife to join him on-screen again in 2008’sTropic Thunder, which he wrote, directed and acted in. Taylor starred as herself in the hit comedy.

After the film’s premiere, theSearch Partystartook time offfrom her acting career to focus on the couple’s family, with Stiller tellingParadein 2016: “She made the choice to be a mother first to our kids. A few years in, she said, ‘I think this is what I need to do.’ She felt she needed to be there. I feel very fortunate for our kids.”

December 2010: Christine Taylor opens up about her semi-retirement and being a mom to her kids with Ben Stiller

Of taking some time to be back on set, Taylor called it “the perfect time” as Stiller had been on a break between films. “It was really the first time that I could even think about working because Ben could take on the mom responsibilities.”

“It never felt like a big decision for me,” she said of taking time away from her career to raise her kids. “It happened so naturally. When I married Ben, I just decided to go with him. He travels so much. It was a no-brainer. I wanted to be with him. And sometimes I got to be in his movies and work with him, which I loved.”

She continued, “Then, when I had Ella, my whole world changed. I couldn’t believe how much love I had for this little creature. I wanted to be a part of it all. I didn’t want to miss anything, and with Ben working as much as he does, I felt it was important for one of us to be the stability in the family.”

February 26, 2011: Ben Stiller talks about his ideal movie night with Christine Taylor

In ared carpet interviewat the 2011Independent Spirit Awards, theGreenbergstar shared that his dream movie night involves none other than Taylor. “I like my movie nights with my wife, that’s my favorite. When you have kids — when you have date night — movie night is a very exciting thing for a married couple, so definitely my wife,” he said.

September 3, 2012: Christine Taylor reveals Ben Stiller’s “competitive” streak

Chris Polk/FilmMagic

In 2013, Stiller toldPEOPLEabout one ill-fated tennis match. “I lost [my wedding ring] in my wife’s handbag. I took it off to pick up a tennis racket and put it in her bottomless pit without telling her. A couple of hours later and it had already disappeared into the universe.”

December 2013: Ben Stiller tells PEOPLE how Christine Taylor keeps him calm

The actor toldPEOPLEof Taylor’s calming advice when things get hectic. “My wife is usually very good at giving me advice. I’ve been working a lot lately, and she said to just take a breath. Breathe and take it one day at a time,” he explained.

October 2014: Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller discuss their relationship

Jason Merritt/FilmMagic

Making a joint appearance at the 16th annual Tomorrow Is Tonight Gala BenefitingProject A.L.S.in New York, the couplechatted with PEOPLEabout how their relationship has evolved over the years.

“It’s all change for the better. Right? We’re older, we’re wiser,” said Taylor, with Stiller agreeing, “We’re hopefully getting better.” She added, “I found a picture of us from 15 years ago, and I saw youth. You don’t see [the change] on a daily basis. We looked like kids. Now we look like parents.”

February 2016: Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor team up together again forZoolander 2

Fifteen years afterBlue Steel, the couple reprised their roles in a sequel to the 2001 comedy, teaming up to share directing duties. In aninterview with Rachael Ray, Taylor joked: “He knows what he wants, and he’s very serious about it, but when he’s directing you in a wig and ridiculous shirt … it’s very hard to take him seriously.”

May 26, 2017: Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller announce their separation

The coupleannounced their separationon May 26, 2017, telling PEOPLE in a joint statement: “With tremendous love and respect for each other, and the 18 years we spent together as a couple, we have made the decision to separate. Our priority will continue to be raising our children as devoted parents and the closest of friends. We kindly ask that the media respect our privacy at this time.”

2018: Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor are spotted together multiple times after their split

Throughout 2018, the former couple were spotted together during several outings, includinggetting dinner in Manhattan, at the2018 US Openwith daughter Ella and at the2018 Project ALS Galawith both their children.

April 8, 2019: Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller are spotted holding hands during a family outing

An onlooker toldPEOPLEthe pair were holding hands during a family outing to seePretty Woman: The Musicalon Broadway, where they also posed for photographs backstage.

September 22, 2019: Christine Taylor poses with Ben Stiller on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmys

FOX Image Collection via Getty

Taylor attended the 2019Emmy Awardstosupport Stiller, where he was nominated for outstanding directing for a limited series, movie or dramatic special forEscape At Dannemora.

October 2020: Ben Stiller producesFriendsgivingstarring Christine Taylor

Stiller served as a producer on the holiday comedyFriendsgiving, which Taylor starred in.

February 2022: Ben Stiller reveals he and Christine Taylor reunited during the pandemic

In anEsquireinterview, Stiller revealed thathe and Taylorreconciled after he moved back in with Taylor and their children during the pandemic. He said their relationship “evolved” over the course of time, noting, “We were separated and got back together and we’re happy about that. It’s been really wonderful for all of us. Unexpected, and one of the things that came out of the pandemic.”

Of their relationship, Stiller said, “I think we have respect for the ways that we’re similar and the ways we’re different. And I think accepting that, you can really appreciate someone more because you’re not trying to get them to change for you.”

“Once you accept that, you save a lot of energy,” he continued. “‘This is something that works for me; this is something that doesn’t work for me.’ If you have that trust level with your partner, you know that me saying ‘I don’t like doing that thing’ is not me saying ‘I don’t likeyou.’ "

At the time, a source toldPEOPLEthe couple were “never estranged” during their separation, and another source shared thatStiller leaned on Taylorafter the death of his father, actorJerry Stiller, in 2020.

March 18, 2022: Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller attend the BNP Paribas Open together

John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty

August 30, 2022: Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor attend the US Open

A few months later, Stiller and Taylor were all smiles while attendinganother tennis event. The pair took in a match at the US Open at theBillie Jean KingNational Tennis Center in New York City.

November 13, 2022: Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor enjoy a Broadway date night

Stiller and Taylorattended the opening nightof comedian Mike Birbiglia’sThe Old Man & the Poolon Broadway. The pair looked happy as they smiled and wrapped their arms around each other on the red carpet.

For the outing, Stiller wore a dark coat over a blue button-up, black slacks and gray sneakers. Meanwhile, Taylor was photographed in an all-black ensemble, accessorized with a tan belt.

January 2023: Ben Stiller guest stars on Christine Taylor’s podcast

Stiller made an appearance on Taylor’s podcastHey Dude… The 90s Called!The series, which premiered in December 2022, features Taylor and her co-host,David Lascher.

“So, it’s been really fun,” Stiller told PEOPLE. “I had a great time doing the episode, and it’s fun to be a part of something new that they’re just getting off the ground, and it seems to be off to a really great start.”

March 7, 2023: Christine Taylor reveals details of her and Ben Stiller’s split and reconciliation

Taylorspoke about her relationship with Stillerduring an appearance onThe Drew Barrymore Show.

“Family was always a priority, but I think Ben and I both started to grow in different directions,” the actress told host Drew Barrymore. “And when we made the decision to separate, it was not something we wanted to talk publicly about or took lightly.”

She added that, at the time of their separation, she and Stiller “were at this impasse of, ‘Let’s figure this out — what’s best at this chapter in our lives?’ "

“I think we have these growth spurts, even as adults. And we needed time to figure that out,” Taylor added.

June 11, 2023: Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller attend the Tribeca Film Festival

Rob Kim/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)

October 26, 2023: Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller host the 25th Project ALS Anniversary gala

Jamie McCarthy/Getty

“We really do enjoy hanging out as a family. Watching movies, playing silly tennis,” theNight at the Museumstar told PEOPLE on the red carpet.

January 28, 2024: Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller attend a Broadway show

June 5, 2024: Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller attend French Open

Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller with daughter Ella at the French Open in 2024.Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu/Getty

Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu/Getty

Stiller, Taylor, and their daughter, Ella, were photographed in the stands at Day 10 of theFrench Open in Paris. The family was seen standing together at the Open at Roland Garros, smiling and clapping as they watched the match.

January 13, 2025: Ben Stiller is “grateful” to be back with Christine Taylor

In an interview with theThe New York Times, Stiller said that even though they spent years apart, he “neverdidn’twant us to be together.” Still, it took “almost a year of living in the same house " during COVID before they actually reunited.

“But I’m so grateful for it, and I think not that many people do come back together when they separate,” he said. “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.”

source: people.com