Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, one of Hollywood’s most beloved couples, surprised fans when they announced their separation in 2017 after 17 years of marriage. However, their love story took an unexpected and heartwarming turn during the COVID-19 pandemic when they reunited and rebuilt their marriage.

In a recent profile with The New York Times, the “Zoolander” and “Dodgeball” star, 59, candidly reflected on the years of separation from his wife and how their journey ultimately led to reconciliation.

“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,” Stiller shared. “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 couple, who married in 2000, share two children—Ella, 22, and Quinlin, 19. Stiller noted that despite their split, the connection between them never truly faded.

“I don’t know where Christine was—you’d have to ask her—but COVID put us all together in the same house,” he revealed. “It was almost a year of living in the same house before we were actually together again. But I’m so grateful for it, and I think not that many people do come back together when they separate. 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.”

Taylor, 53, echoed his sentiments during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2023, reflecting on their time apart and eventual reunion.

“Family was always a priority, but I think Ben and I both sort of started to grow in different directions,” she explained. “When we made the decision to separate, it was not something we wanted to talk publicly about. It was not something we took lightly, either.”

She added, “I think we have these growth spurts—even as adults—and I feel like we needed just some time to figure that out. But even when we were apart, we remained a family unit.”

The turning point came when the pandemic forced their family to “hunker down” under one roof, creating a space where reconnection happened naturally.

“It was a really special time for us, for the family,” Taylor said. “It just happened organically and naturally.”

Stiller and Taylor’s reunion has been a blessing not just for them but for their children as well. Reflecting on the experience, Stiller told Esquire in 2022, “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.”

Their story is a testament to the power of love, forgiveness, and the importance of family. While their time apart allowed them to grow individually, it ultimately brought them back together with a deeper appreciation for each other and the life they’ve built.

As Stiller put it, “You have so much more appreciation for what you have, because we know we could not have it.”

For fans of the couple, their journey is a beautiful reminder that even in the toughest seasons, love can find its way back home.