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Ben Stiller and wife Christine Taylor announce split after 17 years of marriage

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor have announced they will separate after 17 years of marriage.

The Hollywood pair, who have shared the big screen together throughout their marriage, released a joint statement on Friday, announcing their breakup.

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor confirmed they are separating after a 17-year marriage (Photo: Erik Pendzich/REX/Shutterstock)
Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor confirmed they are separating after a 17-year marriage (Photo: Erik Pendzich/REX/Shutterstock)

“With tremendous love and respect for each other, and the 18 years we spent together as a couple, we have made the decision to separate,” they said in their statement to US showbiz programme Entertainment Tonight.

“Our priority will continue to be raising our children as devoted parents and the closest of friends.

“We kindly ask that the media respect our privacy at this time.”

The couple have two children together – Ella, 15 (pictured) and Quinlin, 12 (Photo: Carolyn Contino/REX/Shutterstock)
The couple have two children together – Ella, 15 (pictured) and Quinlin, 12 (Photo: Carolyn Contino/REX/Shutterstock)

The couple married in Hawaii in 2000 and have two children together – a 15-year-old daughter, Ella Olivia, and a 12-year-old son, Quinlin Dempsey.

Ben, 51, previously opened up about his relationship with Christine, 45, who he met while filming a TV show called Heat Vision and Jack, which never made it to air.

Speaking of their engagement, Ben told Parade magazine: “It was like Meet the Parents in real life, because Christine’s father is an intimidating guy who owns a security company; we’re good friends now, but at the time I was in the basement rec room saying, ‘I really would like to marry your daughter…’ He’s a man of few words but he was very welcoming.

Ben appeared on the Cannes red carpet earlier this week (Photo: Canio Romaniello/SilverHub/REX/Shutterstock)
Ben appeared on the Cannes red carpet earlier this week (Photo: Canio Romaniello/SilverHub/REX/Shutterstock)

“I was more nervous asking him than asking her… [Christine and my] relationship was a gradual thing that happened over a quick period of time, maybe seven or eight months.

“We just started hanging out with each other and it developed into, ‘Wow, this feels great. I really like this person. I think I love this person. I really do – I love this person.’ It hit me out of the blue.”

The two stars have appeared in numerous movies together including Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Tropic Thunder and both Zoolander films.

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