In a revealing new documentary, Ben Stiller faces criticism from his children, who claim the Hollywood star was largely absent during their formative years. The 59-year-old actor and producer opens up about the challenges of balancing career and family in “Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost,” an Apple TV+ feature exploring the enduring 61-year marriage of his parents, comedy legends Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller.

In one poignant segment, Stiller recounts a conversation with his 23-year-old daughter Ella, an emerging actress recognized for her role in “And Just Like That.” Ella candidly told her father, “I literally can’t ever remember you being around when I was growing up.” This admission highlights the emotional weight of parental absence in the fast-paced world of Hollywood.

His 20-year-old son Quinn shared similar sentiments, expressing a sense of being overshadowed by his father’s professional commitments. Quinn confessed that he often felt he “came last” on his father’s list of priorities, revealing the emotional impact of Stiller’s demanding career.

Quinn further described how Stiller’s tendency to become absorbed in his own thoughts after a difficult day could cast a shadow over family vacations. “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,” Quinn recalled, illustrating how these moments could dampen the joy of family time.

He said: ‘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. So that would kind of put a damper on the fun part of being on vacation.

He added: ‘You have all these hats that you’re trying to balance, you know? Being a director, an actor, a producer, a writer. But also just, like, a father. And sometimes, I felt that would come last to these other things.’

The Zoolander sensation shares his two kids with longtime wife Christine Taylor, 54. 

Ben Stiller ‘s kids accused the star of being absent during their childhood in a candid new documentary; pictured September 14

Ben pictured with wife Christine Taylor and their kids Quin and Ella in 2016

Speaking with The Sunday Times about the documentary earlier this month, he shared, ‘Like any parent, I remember things that weren’t happy about my childhood and go, “I’ll do better.”

‘And then I realized it was impossible to avoid making the mistakes [my parents] made. I feel like I have a really great relationship with my kids, but it’s complicated and has at times been strained.’

He explained, ‘When they were young, I did not get it. I thought, “Oh, the kids are young, I can work away and be a good dad earning for the family.” But the bonds you form with your kids when they’re young are so important.’

Ben grew up alongside older sister Amy Stiller, 64, while their parents worked in showbiz. 

He said their mom and dad’s careers ‘totally affected’ them.

The father-of-two recalled, ‘I just remember missing them terribly. And when they would come back, my sister and I would act out Jesus Christ Superstar or something in the lounge.’

He confessed, ‘But, then, I probably f***ed up more with my kids than my parents did with us.’

The 59-year-old actor and producer reflects on fatherhood in his new AppleTV+ documentary about his parents, Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost, which examines his mother Anne Meara and father Jerry Stiller’s 61-year marriage – pictured 2008 with his parents and wife Christine Taylor

In one candid moment the Zoolander actor recalled his 23-year-old daughter Ella – an actress who recently starred in And Just Like That (pictured) – telling him: ‘I literally can’t ever remember you being around when I was growing up’

Stiller – seen in 2008’s Tropic Thunder -previously said: ‘When they were young, I did not get it. I thought, “Oh, the kids are young, I can work away and be a good dad earning for the family.” But the bonds you form with your kids when they’re young are so important’

Ben’s daughter Ella shared a photo taken ‘circa 2005’ of her, her dad, and her late grandparents Jerry and Anne via Instagram in September 2024

Ben grew up alongside older sister Amy Stiller, 64, while their parents worked in showbiz

The actor shines a light on his upbringing as the son of comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara in his documentary (pictured: Stiller practices the violin for his parents in 1972)

Elsewhere in his documentary, Ben spoke to Ella about his regret in cutting her from one of his films.

She was due to make her feature film debut in the 2013 movie Secret Life of Walter Mitty, which was directed and co-produced by her A-lister father, who also played the titular role.

However, in post-production, he decided he no longer wanted to include the scene in which his daughter appeared.

She had starred as the much younger sister of her dad’s character, Odessa Mitty.

‘I cut you out of Secret Life of Walter Mitty. It’s probably the worst decision I ever made in my life,’ Ben laments in the doc.

Ella, however, argued that the scene ‘didn’t make sense in the movie.’

‘For me it kind of goes deeper,’ Ben told his daughter. ‘What it relates to is my own issues with my own obsession with my work, or “perfectionism.”‘