This Woman and a Famous Actor, Now Married for 23 Years, Separated after 17 Years Then Reconciled during the Pandemic

• After only a few months of dating, this woman married a famous Hollywood actor.
• They were married for 17 years before they split and reconciled.
• The two made a red carpet appearance, and fans were stoked to see them together.

This woman crossed paths with an actor with whom she would share a romantic rollercoaster. They met while filming a TV pilot called "Heat Vision and Jack."

In a 2007 interview, the comedian recalled his first thought after laying eyes on his future wife, saying he knew that she was the one. "This is a great person. I love her," he added.

When the actor was preparing to propose to his wife, he was filming the movie "Meet the Parents." Ironically he found himself living the same reality as his on-screen character, who was nervous about asking his girlfriend's father for his blessing to marry his daughter.

He was intimated by the father, who owned a security business and was a man of a few words. Not to mention that the two had only been dating for a few months. Still, the actor was determined to do right by the actress' parents and remembered rehearsing his proposal while on set. It all worked out because the couple wed in May 2000 at an oceanfront ceremony in Kauai, Hawaii.

They share two children. Two years after walking down the aisle, they welcomed their first child together, daughter Ella Olivia in April 2002. The duo's youngest child, son Quinlin Dempsey, was born three years later in July 2005.

However, after nearly two decades together, the parents of two shockingly announced their split in March 2017. They released a joint statement saying:

"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."

The couple further stated that their primary focus from then on would be to continue raising their son and daughter as "devoted parents and the closest of friends." The pair lived apart following their breakup, but things drastically changed between them when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The actor moved back into the family home to see the kids.

During a February 2022 interview, the "Night at the Museum" star revealed that as time progressed amid quarantine, things "evolved," and he and his wife rekindled their romance. Although it was unexpected, he admitted it was suitable for all of them as they were "happy."

Looking back at their reconciliation, the actress said their initial split was not something they wanted, but they found themselves wanting different things. So they allowed each other the space to individually figure out what they wanted.

The mother of two gushed over how good things were between them on "The Drew Barrymore Show" in March 2023. She said their relationship and commitment to each other has come with a sense of freedom. More importantly, the couple also prioritizes taking care of themselves individually, which has made things better between them.

When discussing their reconnection, she said they had much time to talk and described their experience together and their family as "special" and that things happened naturally. As for the actor, he said they must appreciate each other for who they are and not who they want each other to be.

Her husband also added that it did not take much convincing to rekindle his relationship with his wife. He said one day, he looked back and realized how much happier he was with her. "Wow, I'm happy with her. We connect. I'm enjoying being with her all the time!” he expressed. No, he does not take any of the time they spend together for granted.

The Couple's Recent Outing

Hollywood couple Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor appeared on the red carpet recently, and fans were in awe of the blonde beauty. The actor and actress attended the off-Broadway debut of "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea." The pair were photographed all smiles during their outing.

Stiller, 57, and Taylor, 52, attended the public event alongside Jesse Eisenberg, Piper Perabo, Dakota Johnson, and Neil Patrick Harris. The event was held at the off-Broadway theatre Lucille Lortel Theatre on November 13, 2023.

Stiller wore black pants, a black shirt, a gray trench coat paired with a royal blue scarf and sneakers. Meanwhile, Taylor sported an all-black get-up featuring a mini dress under a coat and matching purse. She opted for black open-toed shoes and accessorized with silver earrings and a gold necklace.

Online users commented on the couple's outing, and some gushed over Taylor. "Wow, she still looks so beautiful... aging very gracefully," one person wrote.

Another penned, "She's very pretty. [I] Loved her in 'The Brady Bunch Movie." Someone else said, "She's adorable. I hope he treats her well."

After many ups and downs, Taylor and Stiller found their way back to each other and discovered better ways to nurture their marriage.