Ben Stiller Regrets Excluding His Daughter from a Film

Ben Stiller has reflected on the mistake he considers his worst as a parent: cutting his daughter Ella Olivia out of his 2013 movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. He shared this regret in a new documentary about his parents, titled Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost, revealing how he still feels haunted by that decision.

He explained that inheriting his father’s perfectionism contributed to his choice, which he deeply regrets, calling it “probably the worst decision I ever made.” Ella, now 23, appeared briefly as Odessa Mitty in the film, a role she described as “really scary” to take on. She added that her scene “didn’t make sense in the movie,” which she found amusing.

Ben admitted that his desire for perfectionism affected his relationship with his children. Reflecting on his own upbringing with comedy legends Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, he revealed that he once vowed not to follow their footsteps as intensely—believing he was doing better. However, he recognized that his efforts to create a special environment for his kids at work were similar to his parents’ approach, and he was blind to the similarities at the time.

His son Quinlin, 20, shared how balancing multiple roles—director, actor, producer, and father—sometimes leads to neglecting family. He noted that after stressful days, it can be easy to get caught up in one’s own head, affecting family dynamics.

Ben also admitted to struggling with the stress and tension stemming from his parents’ careers. During an interview, he openly said, “I probably f–ked up more with my kids than my parents did with us.”

He shares Ella and Quinlin with wife Christine Taylor, whom he married in 2000. Despite a separation in 2017, the couple remains committed, and Ben acknowledges that he has often prioritized work over family, a realization he expressed regret over.