Ben Stiller says splitting up and getting back together with his wife helped him be a 'better parent'

• Ben Stiller, 59, says splitting and getting back together with his wife made him a better parent. • He said his parents were often busy with work, and he ended up doing the same with his kids. • "And then I realized it was impossible to avoid making the mistakes they made," the actor said.

Ben Stiller says he tried not to repeat the same parenting mistakes as his famous mom and dad, but realized it wasn't easy.

In an interview with The Times, published on Saturday, Stiller spoke about his bond with his late parents and how it mirrors parts of his own relationship with his kids.

The actor said he remembers his parents, comedians Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, working long hours and being away from home for weeks at a time.

"I just remember missing them terribly," Stiller, 59, told