{"id":2102191,"date":"2025-10-19T17:45:41","date_gmt":"2025-10-19T17:45:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2102191"},"modified":"2025-10-19T17:45:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T17:45:41","slug":"ben-stiller-confesses-worst-decision-that-still-haunts-him-as-a-dad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/ben-stiller-confesses-worst-decision-that-still-haunts-him-as-a-dad\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben Stiller confesses \u2018worst decision\u2019 that still haunts him as a dad"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\/ben-stiller-doubts-tropic-thunder-would-made-today-says-edgier-comedy-harder-do\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Ben Stiller;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Ben Stiller<\/a> said the &#8220;worst decision&#8221; he ever made was cutting his daughter out of a film he directed and starred in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I cut you out of\u00a0&#8216;Secret Life of Walter Mitty.\u2019 It&#8217;s probably the worst decision I ever made in my life,&#8221; the 59-year-old told his daughter, Ella, 23, in his upcoming documentary about his parents, according to <span>People magazine<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ella admitted the scene where she was supposed to play Mitty\u2019s daughter &#8220;didn&#8217;t really make sense in the movie.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Stiller starred as the title character in the 2013 film.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\/ben-stiller-never-gave-up-marriage-christine-taylor-despite-years-long-split\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Ben Stiller Never Gave Up On Marriage To Christine Taylor Despite Years-long Split;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong>Ben Stiller Never Gave Up On Marriage To Christine Taylor Despite Years-long Split<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Ben Stiller with wife, Christine Taylor, and daughter Ella in 2024.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;For me, it kind of goes deeper,&#8221; Stiller continued. &#8220;What it relates to is my own issues with my own obsessions with my work, or perfectionism.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS\/mvaj7wvj\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Read On The Fox News App;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong><u>Read On The Fox News App<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">His documentary &#8220;Stiller &amp; Meara: Nothing Is Lost,&#8221; which debuted in select theaters Oct. 17 and will premiere globally on Apple TV+ Oct. 24, is about his parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. The two were a successful mid-century comedy duo who then transitioned into sitcom regulars on shows like &#8220;Seinfeld,&#8221; &#8220;Sex and the City&#8221; and &#8220;The King of Queens.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In the documentary, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\/ben-stiller-doubts-tropic-thunder-would-made-today-says-edgier-comedy-harder-do\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Stiller opened up;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Stiller opened up<\/a> about growing up with parents who were often on the road or doing shows late in the evening.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I think the deeper that you go into learning about your parents, and not about them as parents but just as people, always gives you a different perspective on your own life,&#8221; he told <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\/jerry-seinfeld-calls-live-radio-show-after-hosts-slam-iconic-sitcom\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Time Magazine;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Time Magazine<\/a>. &#8220;I really do feel like the experience of delving in gave me more empathy for them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\/ben-stiller-knew-had-quit-saturday-night-live-after-four-episodes\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Ben Stiller Knew He Had To Quit \u2018Saturday Night Live' After Four Episodes;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong>Ben Stiller Knew He Had To Quit \u2018Saturday Night Live&#8217; After Four Episodes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Ben Stiller with his kids at his hand and footprint ceremony\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/sSkEd6.zK.h2mrKPgmGfBA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/fox_news_text_979\/6a89c04db67375b26ee3fe68401eee74\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Ben Stiller with Quinn and Ella at his hand and footprint ceremony in Hollywood in 2013.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In an interview with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.com\/culture\/film\/article\/ben-stiller-interview-stiller-and-meara-nothing-is-lost-twg2xrxxr\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The Sunday Times,;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">The Sunday Times,<\/a> he noted that he &#8220;probably f&#8212;-ed up more with my kids than my parents did with us.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Stiller and his wife, actress <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\/christine-taylor-discusses-ben-stiller-split-17-year-marriage-how-found-way-back\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Christine Taylor,;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Christine Taylor,<\/a> also share a son Quinn, 20.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;My son tells me that being a dad might not have been at the top of my list,&#8221; he told the outlet. &#8220;Like any parent, I remember things that weren\u2019t happy about my childhood and go, \u2018I\u2019ll do better,\u2019 And then I realized it was impossible to avoid making the mistakes they made.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Like What You\u2019re Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong><u>Like What You\u2019re Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Still, he said he feels like he has a &#8220;really great relationship with my kids, but it\u2019s complicated and has at times been strained. When they were young, I did not get it. I thought, \u2018Oh, the kids are young, I can work away and be a good dad earning for the family.\u2019 But the bonds you form with your kids when they\u2019re young are so important.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Ben Stiller with his parents and sister\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/pUvOuVPqYDXmxOS17VugpQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/fox_news_text_979\/edd3a783ff0ed3cc7d002d91b0a2e148\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>(L-R) Jerry Stiller, Amy Stiller, Ben Stiller and Anne Meara.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Stiller and Taylor separated in 2017 after 17 years of marriage before rekindling their relationship when the family quarantined together during the pandemic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/newsletters\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong><u>Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;That was a strain on my relationship with the kids. And I\u2019d think, \u2018Well, my parents never did\u00a0that,\u2019&#8221; he said. &#8220;But a long relationship is hard. You lose the freshness. I feel bad about what us breaking up did to the kids, but it was possibly the best thing to happen to Christine and me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In 2023, Taylor spoke about <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\/christine-taylor-discusses-ben-stiller-split-17-year-marriage-how-found-way-back\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:getting back with Stiller;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">getting back with Stiller<\/a> on &#8220;The Drew Barrymore Show.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We always stayed a family unit,&#8221; Taylor told Barrymore. &#8220;So, when the pandemic hit, and we all had to figure out where to hunker down, we all ended up <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/lifestyle\/parenting\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:in our house together with two teenagers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><u>in our house together with two teenagers<\/u><\/a>, and we found this way back.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We had so much time to talk. There were no other distractions \u2026 it just happened organically.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Ben Stiller with wife and kids at zoolander 2 premiere\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/vfPPWZlYhhU1QFNpGIbHAA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/fox_news_text_979\/a215acc094a083ba2030e7c6fba61bc8\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor with their kids at the &#8220;Zoolander 2&#8221; premiere in 2016.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The &#8220;Zoolander&#8221; star told The Sunday Times the temporary breakup changed their relationship.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We don\u2019t take it for granted anymore,&#8221; he said of their marriage. &#8220;And if you are happy, you\u2019re going to be a better parent. You have hurdles and try to figure it out, and if you stay, all you can do is acknowledge the past and try to repair. That\u2019s what we have in our family. It\u2019s not perfect \u2014 at all. But that\u2019s just life.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Original article source:<\/em> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\/ben-stiller-confesses-worst-decision-still-haunts-him-dad\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Ben Stiller confesses \u2018worst decision\u2019 that still haunts him as a dad;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Ben Stiller confesses \u2018worst decision\u2019 that still haunts him as a dad<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ben Stiller said the &#8220;worst decision&#8221; he ever made was cutting his daughter out of a film he directed and starred in. &#8220;I cut you out of\u00a0&#8216;Secret Life of Walter Mitty.\u2019 It&#8217;s probably the worst decision I ever made in my life,&#8221; the 59-year-old told his daughter, Ella, 23, in his upcoming documentary about his [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2102192,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25177],"tags":[380331,65245,348451,343225,397512],"class_list":["post-2102191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrities","tag-amy-stiller","tag-ben-stiller","tag-christine-taylor","tag-jerry-stiller","tag-worst-decision"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Ben-Stiller-confesses-\u2018worst-decision-that-still-haunts-him-as.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2102191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2102191"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2102191\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2102193,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2102191\/revisions\/2102193"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2102192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2102191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2102191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2102191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}