Ben Stiller'S Kids Share Heartfelt Truths About Growing Up In Dad'S Shadow

Ben Stiller's Candid Family Revelations

Ben Stiller is pulling back the curtain on the personal cost of his Hollywood career in his new Apple TV+ documentary, "Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost." The 59-year-old actor gets real about how his work once overshadowed his family life, with his children, Ella and Quinlin, sharing their perspectives. The film, debuting Friday, October 24, includes open conversations between Stiller and his kids, Ella, 23, and Quinlin, 20, revealing the impact his career had on their childhood.

Children's Honest Reflections

In a poignant moment, Stiller recalls Ella telling him, "I literally can’t ever remember you being around when I was growing up." This raw confession prompted Stiller to ask his son, Quinlin, if he felt the same way. Quinlin didn’t hold back, explaining how his father's busy schedule often overshadowed family time.

“After a tough day, or if something was going wrong, you can kind of get into your own head and when you get into that place, it’s hard to get you out of it,” Quinlin shared in the film, according to Us Weekly. “So that would kind of put a damper on the fun part of being on vacation.”

Quinlin added that while his dad juggled multiple roles as a director, actor, producer, and writer, being a father sometimes took a backseat.

Lessons From the Past

Stiller admitted he thought he was doing better than his own father, the legendary comedian Jerry Stiller, but has since come to see the similarities. "I thought I was pulling it off," he confessed, mentioning his efforts to fly home on weekends or bring his kids to set. "But in reality, just hearing them talk about it, for them, it was the same thing I was going through as a kid and I just couldn’t see that at all."

He shares Ella and Quinlin with his wife, Christine Taylor, whom he married in 2000. The couple, who briefly split in 2017, found their way back to each other during the pandemic. Stiller later shared on "The View" that he no longer takes her love "for granted."

Family Dynamics Unveiled

Elsewhere in the documentary, Ben delves into his complicated family history, discussing how he once "resented" his father for not confronting his mother, Anne Meara's, alcoholism. "When [my mom] was drinking, my dad never really knew how to handle it," he said. While acknowledging Jerry's deep love for her, Ben admitted feeling angry at his father for not being more present for him and his sister.

This story was initially reported by Parade on October 18, 2025, and appeared in their News section.