Ben Stiller opened up about his struggles as a father and admitted he was “f***** up” while raising his two children, Ella and Quinlin, with wife Christine Taylor.
The 59-year-old actor reflected on how his choices as a parent were shaped by his own childhood and the lessons he learned later in life.
Ben said growing up the son of comedy legends Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara has had a lasting impact on him and his sister Amy.
Their parents were often away performing, which made the children miss them deeply. “I remember missing them terribly,” Ben said, adding that he and his sister would entertain themselves by reenacting “Jesus Christ Superstar” at home.
Looking back, the Night at the Museum Star admitted that he had made similar mistakes with his own children.
“I probably have more problems with my kids than my parents have with us,” he said, recalling how his son once told him that being a father might not be his top priority.
However, Ben realized that working too much when his children were young was preventing him from building strong bonds with them.
The Meet the parents actor also reflected on his divorce from Christine in 2017 after 17 years of marriage, calling it both painful and necessary.
“I feel bad about what the breakup did to the kids, but it was probably the best thing that could have happened to Christine and me,” he said.
The couple reunited in 2020 and Ben believes their time apart helped them rebuild their relationship. “We don’t take it for granted anymore,” he says.
“It’s not perfect, but that’s just life.”
