A Hard Lesson
Ben Stiller says one of the worst decisions he’s ever made was cutting his daughter, Ella, from his 2013 film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Ella was meant to play his character’s younger sister, but her scene was taken out. In his new documentary Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost, Stiller looks back on that choice with regret. “It’s probably the worst decision I ever made in my life,” he says. Ella later told him the scene didn’t make much sense in the story, but for Stiller, it was more about his struggle with perfectionism and focusing too much on work.
Following in His Parents’ Footsteps
The film also explores how Stiller’s childhood shaped him. His parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, were both actors. Growing up around their careers made a big impact. Stiller says he thought he was doing better than they did when it came to balancing work and family. He flew home on weekends and tried to make his film sets fun for his kids. But now, hearing his children’s memories, he realizes he made some of the same mistakes.
Hearing From His Kids
In the documentary, Ella, 23, and his son Quinlin, 20, share what it was like growing up with a famous dad. Quinlin remembers that after a hard day at work, his father would often be distant. Even on vacations, it could be hard to relax. He says it sometimes felt like work came first.
A Chance to Make Things Right
For Stiller, this documentary isn’t just about his parents, and it’s also about becoming a better dad. He’s learning to see his past choices more clearly and hopes to do better moving forward. “It wasn’t just about the movie,” he says. “It was about how I was showing up for my kids.”
