Ben Stiller Feels 'Grateful' to Be Back with Wife Christine Taylor After Separation: 'So Much More Appreciation'

Mar. 15, 2025

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor on Aug. 27, 2024.Photo:Gotham/GC Images

Gotham/GC Images

Ben Stilleris explaining how reconnecting with wifeChristine Taylorafter a separation made them value their marriage more.The actors — who married in 2000 andshare two kids, daughter Ella, 22, and son Quinlin, 19— separated in 2017 but reconciled sometime during the pandemic, when they’d moved back in together.In a newinterview withThe New York Times, Stiller, 59, explained how the time apart ended up making their relationship stronger.“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,” he said. “It was like three or four years that we weren’t together but we always were connected. In my mind, I neverdidn’twant us to be together.““I don’t know where Christine was, you’d have to ask her, but COVID put us all together in the same house,” added theSeverancedirector.Stiller recalled to the outlet that it was “almost a year of living in the same house before we were actually together” again.Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor on Aug. 30, 2022.Gotham/GC Images"But I’m so grateful for it, and I think not that many people do come back together when they separate,” said Stiller. “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.“In March 2023, Taylor, 53,opened up about their separationwhile onThe Drew Barrymore Show,admitting they “got married very quickly after meeting each other” and eventually they “both started to grow in different directions.“The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Their separation was “not something we took lightly” and they “always stayed a family unit.““It was sort of like we were both at this impasse of ‘let’s figure out what’s best: What’s best for each other at this chapter in our lives?’ … 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,” she said at the time. “I feel like we needed some time to figure that out.“Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller on May 21, 2024.Noam Galai/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Together again, Taylor said she and Stiller are “so good” and realize they had a “history” together, which has a “freedom and comfort.“In February 2022, Stiller revealed that he and Taylor reconciled, tellingEsquireat the time, “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.”

Ben Stilleris explaining how reconnecting with wifeChristine Taylorafter a separation made them value their marriage more.

The actors — who married in 2000 andshare two kids, daughter Ella, 22, and son Quinlin, 19— separated in 2017 but reconciled sometime during the pandemic, when they’d moved back in together.

In a newinterview withThe New York Times, Stiller, 59, explained how the time apart ended up making their relationship stronger.

“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,” he said. “It was like three or four years that we weren’t together but we always were connected. In my mind, I neverdidn’twant us to be together.”

“I don’t know where Christine was, you’d have to ask her, but COVID put us all together in the same house,” added theSeverancedirector.

Stiller recalled to the outlet that it was “almost a year of living in the same house before we were actually together” again.

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor on Aug. 30, 2022.Gotham/GC Images

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

In March 2023, Taylor, 53,opened up about their separationwhile onThe Drew Barrymore Show,admitting they “got married very quickly after meeting each other” and eventually they “both started to grow in different directions.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Their separation was “not something we took lightly” and they “always stayed a family unit.”

“It was sort of like we were both at this impasse of ‘let’s figure out what’s best: What’s best for each other at this chapter in our lives?’ … 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,” she said at the time. “I feel like we needed some time to figure that out.”

Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller on May 21, 2024.Noam Galai/Getty

Noam Galai/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Together again, Taylor said she and Stiller are “so good” and realize they had a “history” together, which has a “freedom and comfort.”

In February 2022, Stiller revealed that he and Taylor reconciled, tellingEsquireat the time, “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.”

source: people.com