It is with great sadness that we report that Jerry Stiller, actor, and comedian, has passed away at the age of 92.
His death was announced on Twitter by his son, fellow actor and comedian Ben Stiller, known for such films as There’s Something About Mary and Zoolander, the latter of which he acted in alongside his father.
On Twitter, Stiller said of his late father: “I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes. He was a great dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed. Love you Dad.”
I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes. He was a great dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed. Love you Dad. pic.twitter.com/KyoNsJIBz5
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) May 11, 2020
Gerald ‘Jerry’ Isaac Stiller studied Speech and Drama at Syracuse University in 1950 and went on to pursue a theatrical comedy career. In 1953, he met his future wife of 62 years, Anne Meara, and, at his suggestion, the two formed a comedy duo, Stiller and Meara.
The pair worked on multiple projects together, starting by performing in nightclubs in New York, eventually being considered “a national phenomenon” by The New York Times. They would later make the jump to television, appearing on various variety programs, including The Ed Sullivan Show. They would later act in radio commercials and even acted in their own sitcom – however, the latter proved a failure and came off the air before it could finish.
To millennials, Stiller is perhaps most familiar for his later work in such popular sitcoms as Seinfeld where he portrayed short-tempered Frank Constanza and King of Queens where he portrayed Arthur Spooner. For his role in the former, Stiller was nominated an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series and eventually won an American Comedy Award for Funniest Male Guest Appearance in a TV Series.
His wife, Anne Meara, passed away in 2015 at the age of 85, having suffered multiple strokes.
Stiller is survived by his two children, Ben, and Amy Stiller.
What fond memories do you have of Jerry Stiller’s roles? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
