Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor spoke to Entertainment Tonight on Friday to give a joint statement saying the comedic duo is splitting up, after having been together for 18 years and married for 17 years. In their statement, they said they still have a great respect and love for each other and for the 18 years they have been together, but they have decided to divorce. Stiller and Taylor said raising their two children as the devoted parents they are will continue to be their priority, and that the pair will remain close friends.

Love at first sight for Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor

As reported by the New York Post, 51-year-old Stiller and Taylor, 45, met when filming a TV pilot titled “Heat Vision and Jack.” While the pilot never did air, Stiller said in an interview in 2007 that as soon as he met Taylor he knew she was the one. It was love at first sight and they were married in Hawaii in May 2000. In April 2002 the couple had a daughter, Ella Olivia, and their son, Quinlin Dempsey was born in July 2005.

Comedic career together for Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor

The couple has continued to star together in various projects, including “Zoolander,” “Tropic Thunder,” “Dodgeball: a True Underdog Story” and “Arrested Development.

Their most recent joint project was “Zoolander 2.”

ET interviewed the couple at the premiere of “Zoolander 2” in February last year, where Stiller and Taylor spoke about working together and how it affects their marriage. Taylor told them “It’s the best,” adding that there is an unspoken connection between them. She said at the time that a sense of humor is the greatest thing in their marriage.

A sense of humor is vital to any happy marriage

Stiller agreed that a sense of humor is the secret to any happy marriage, and not just in Hollywood. While dealing with everything life throws at them, he said they have to keep their sense of humor.

Prostate scare for Ben Stiller in 2016

Stiller revealed in November 2016 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer two years prior. He said during an interview with Howard Stern that this diagnosis came out of the blue and that he was scared. He felt you couldn’t plan to work on a movie when you had no idea what is going to happen. It turned out his prostate cancer was detected early enough for him to receive treatment, thanks to an internist who decided to give him a test, so everything turned out fine in the end.

Stiller and Taylor concluded their statement relating to their divorce by requesting the media to respect their privacy at this difficult time.
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