Ben Stiller sheds light on the complex legacy of his parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, in the 2025 documentary Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost. The film explores their careers, personal struggles, and how their fame shaped the family’s life during Ben and his sister Amy’s upbringing.
Tracing the Life and Career of Jerry Stiller
Jerry Stiller was a World War II U.S. Army veteran who pursued acting after his military service, studying at Syracuse University and performing in New York theatre during the early 1950s. It was in 1953 that he met Anne Meara, marrying her the following year before launching their joint career as a comedy duo. Together, they became some of the founding members of Chicago’s Second City improv troupe, a platform that helped launch numerous careers including those of Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, and Amber Ruffin.
Throughout the 1960s, Jerry and Anne frequently appeared on television, notably as recurring guests on The Ed Sullivan Show and hosting a syndicated series linked to Saturday Night Live. Beyond the duo, Jerry earned acclaim for his role as Frank Costanza on the iconic sitcom Seinfeld, which garnered him an Emmy nomination. His other notable roles include playing Arthur Spooner in The King of Queens opposite Kevin James and contributing voice work for Disney projects.
Jerry also appeared in many of his son Ben’s films, such as the Zoolander series and Heavyweights. Ben publicly announced Jerry’s death in May 2020, at age 92, recognizing his father’s influence both within the family and the entertainment industry.
“I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes,”
Ben tweeted.
“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.”
Anne Meara’s Journey and Contributions to Comedy
Anne Meara endured a challenging childhood marked by the tragic suicide of her mother, Mary Dempsey, when Anne was just ten years old. Nevertheless, she pursued acting, training under the acclaimed teacher Uta Hagen at New York City’s New School during her teenage years. Encouraged by Jerry Stiller, Anne transitioned into comedy, forming one of show business’s memorable pairs with her husband.
“Jerry started us being a comedy team,”
Meara once stated.
“He always thought I would be a great comedy partner.”
Anne earned four Emmy nominations and won a Writers Guild of America Award for co-writing the 1983 TV movie The Other Woman. Her television work spanned decades, including roles on sitcoms such as Rhoda, Archie Bunker’s Place, and Alf. She was also known for portraying Mary Brady, Steve Brady’s mother on Sex and the City, and shared the screen with Jerry in The King of Queens.
Anne faced significant health and personal struggles throughout her life, including battles with alcoholism that her son Ben openly discussed years later.
“My mother had issues across her life with alcoholism,”
Ben revealed in 2023.
“She got sober and really explored that stuff … She had so much trauma [in her life] and the thing that I’m so grateful for is that, I think so many people who live with alcoholism in their families, it’s never dealt with. It’s never, ever explored or even talked about.”
Ben added,
“What I’m grateful for is she really delved into that in her therapy. For someone who’s a functioning alcoholic, it’s basically that you’re trying to navigate that because it’s not dramatic.”
Anne Meara passed away in May 2015 at age 85 after suffering multiple strokes.
Ben Stiller’s Reflections on Family and Fame
In the documentary Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost, which premiered at the New York Film Festival in October 2025, Ben Stiller confronted the complicated dynamics within his family. He spoke candidly about the emotional challenges he faced growing up with parents who were both loving and volatile, shaped by the pressures of their public careers.
Ben revealed feelings of resentment toward his father for the way he handled Anne’s alcoholism, an issue that was difficult for the family to address openly at the time.
“When [my mom] was drinking, my dad never really knew how to handle it,”
Stiller explained.
“I think he loved her so much and he was so committed to her. Also the act and what they did together was so important, that he had to figure out how to deal with that on his own. But I think I resented him for not acknowledging it to us.”
Despite these struggles, Ben acknowledged his father’s deep love for the children and the complexity of balancing family with their careers.
“I think he was just trying to figure out how to navigate that and I got so angry at him for not being there for us but I don’t even think I understood that for awhile,”
he recounted.
Ben’s wife, Christine Taylor, also shared a perspective on Anne’s support after becoming sober, highlighting her empathy during difficult parenting moments.
“She would see me as a new mother, during those moments where it was crazy and frenetic, and tell me how great a job I was doing,”
Taylor said.
“It was a way to make me feel so good about what I was doing, but [also] her acknowledging what she couldn’t do.”
The Dual Nature of Artistic Fame in the Stiller Family
In interviews discussing the documentary, Ben Stiller emphasized the complicated impact his parents’ fame had on their family life. While he and his sister grew up immersed in the entertainment world they loved, the dedication required by their parents’ creativity often came at a cost.
“When people see the movie, you can see how organic it was for my sister and I to be a part of this world,”
Ben noted.
“It was our reality and it’s what we grew up in and we loved it when we were kids. The flip side was, it took our parents away from us, which any creative endeavor does. You have a creative parent, part of them is going to be dedicated to their creativity, if they’re a real artist. They can’t deny that.”
This perspective highlights the universal tension families face when balancing the demands of artistic careers with personal relationships, a theme that many viewers may find relatable.
Legacy, Healing, and Support
By sharing these intimate details in Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost, Ben Stiller not only honors his parents’ significant contribution to comedy and television but also brings awareness to the personal hardships behind the scenes. The documentary underscores themes of addiction, resilience, and family bonds, encouraging conversations that often remain unspoken.
The film also serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing struggles with substance abuse. For those seeking help, organizations such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offer support via their national helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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
