Ben Stiller has been with his wife, Christine Taylor, for over 25 years. In an appearance on The View, Stiller shared the secret behind keeping his relationship alive.
Although the couple had taken a break in 2017 after 17 years of marriage, they were back together three years later. Here are his secrets to a long-lasting marriage.
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The two had spent some time apart
Ben Stiller, 59, and Christine Taylor, 53, had been married for 17 years before taking some time apart in 2017 and only reconnecting during the pandemic three years later.
They decided they wanted to give it another chance, especially for their kids.
Stiller moved in with Taylor
The Night at the Museum star shared that he and Christine Taylor fell in love again after he moved in with her during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They wanted to give the relationship another chance for their two children; Ella, who is 22 years old, and Quinlin, 19.
Stiller spoke about the reason
Speaking on The View, the Severance director said, “I don’t know how it happened other than we both wanted it.”
“Now, every day that we’re together, we do not take for granted,” he added about the secret behind keeping close with his partner.
The actor shared his gratitude for his family
Talking about not taking his connection with Taylor for granted, Stiller added, “At least, I know I don’t, because you know it could go away and that to me is the gift for our relationship is that we have that every day, and I really am so happy that we’re together.”
Stiller said that relationships need work
Talking about being in a relationship or a marriage, the Meet the Fockers star said that you usually have to put in the effort and work it out.
“You have to work at it,” Stiller said, sharing that reconnecting with a partner is something you have to consciously do.
But that’s not always the right decision
Although he said conscious effort is important, Stiller added, “I don’t have any great relationship advice other than I’m so grateful that we’re back together, and I think now — I think sometimes people shouldn’t get back together — sometimes it’s not the right thing. For us it was the right thing.”
He believes the break improved their marriage
Stiller even shared that he found the three-year break was beneficial for his relationship with Taylor.
“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 in a recent interview with The New York Times.
The break wasn’t meant to be permanent
“It was like three or four years that we weren’t together but we always were connected. In my mind, I never didn’t want us to be together,” the actor added.
“I don’t know where Christine was, you’d have to ask her, but COVID put us all together in the same house,” he shared.
The couple didn’t rush it
Although Stiller had moved back in with Taylor with the intention of improving their relationship, and because the pandemic had been separating people, the two still didn’t rush it.
The actor and director shared that it was “almost a year of living in the same house before we were actually together.”
Their relationship remains thriving
“We were separated and got back together and we’re happy about that,” Stiller told Esquire in 2022, before adding, “It’s been really wonderful for all of us. Unexpected, and one of the things that came out of the pandemic.”
The couple now cherish every moment together after having reconnected at a time of difficulty.
