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Ben Stiller Is So Over His Ex-Wife Christine Taylor — Thanks to His Wingman, Justin Theroux! (EXCLUSIVE)
Matchmaker, matchmaker, make him a match! Ben Stiller recently ended his 17-year marriage to longtime wife Christine Taylor, but thanks to his buddy and Zoolander 2 co-creator Justin Theroux, the 51-year-old actor most famous for his Blue Steel pout is moving on from his past relationship.
Newly single, and suddenly thrown back into the game, sources exclusive revealed to Life & Style that Ben is turning to Jennifer Aniston‘s beau for help wading back into the dating pool. The actors co-wrote Tropic Thunder and the sequel to Zoolander together; Justin playing matchmaker seems to be the third time they’ve “worked” together.
Will Ferrell, Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller, and Justin Theroux promoting Zoolander 2.
“[Justin] is playing matchmaker for his good friend, ” a source says. “It’s tricky because Justin is also friends with Christine.” But because they’re such buds, Justin is the perfect wingman. After all, he knows exactly what Ben is looking for in a potential date. “Ben wants someone who has a career and a life of her own,” the source continues. That’s a detail Justin isn’t leaving to chance throughout his search for Ben’s perfect woman. “Justin’s working hard to find him the perfect, smart, funny new girl.”
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Ben and Christine married in 2000 after a whirlwind romance and have two children together, Ella, 15, and Quinlin, 12. Throughout the years, they co-starred in films like Zoolander, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Zoolander 2, and Arrested Development. He revealed in a 2013 interview that he proposed while filming Meet the Parents, not unlike in the way in which his on-screen character tries to propose.
Ben, Christine, and their two children, Quinlin and Ella.
MORE: Ben Stiller Talks About How He Fell in Love with Wife Christine Taylor
“I proposed to Christine when I was rehearsing Meet the Parents,” Ben told Parade. “I asked her father for permission before I did it. 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. I was more nervous asking him than asking her.” But after almost two decades together and a son and a daughter, the long-term couple called it quits in a joint statement on May 26.
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“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. 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.” We wish Ben the best of luck in the dating world!
For more celebrity relationship updates, pick up the latest issue of Life & Style, on newsstands now.
