Ben Stiller Bio
Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller (born November 30, 1965) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker known for his blend of slapstick humor and sharp wit. He rose to fame through comedies such as There’s Something About Mary (1998), Zoolander (2001), and Tropic Thunder (2008). Stiller is also known for his work in franchises such as the Meet the Parents films (2000–2010) and the Madagascar franchise (2005–2012). With a number of successful films, Stiller has grossed over $2.6 billion in North America, and his accolades include an Emmy Award.
Early Life and Background
Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller was born on November 30, 1965, in New York City and raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. His father, comedian and actor Jerry Stiller, was born to Ashkenazi Jewish parents that had emigrated from Galicia in Poland. His mother, actress and comedian Anne Meara, who was from an Irish Catholic background, converted to Reform Judaism after marrying his father. While they were not a very religious family, they celebrated both Hanukkah and Christmas, and Stiller had a bar mitzvah. His parents frequently took him on the sets of their appearances, including The Mike Douglas Show when he was six. He considered his childhood unusual, stating: “In some ways, it was a show-business upbringing—a lot of traveling, a lot of late nights—not what you’d call traditional.” Stiller displayed an early interest in filmmaking and made Super 8 movies with his sister and friends.
At age nine, Stiller made his acting debut as a guest on his mother’s short-lived television series, Kate McShane. In the late 1970s, he performed with the New York City troupe NYC’s First All Children’s Theater, playing several roles, including the title role in Clever Jack and the Magic Beanstalk. After being inspired by the television show Second City Television while in high school, Stiller realized that he wanted to get involved with sketch comedy. During his high school years, he was also the drummer of the post-punk band Capital Punishment, which released the studio album Roadkill in 1982. The band reunited in 2018 to release a new EP, titled This is Capital Punishment, for Record Store Day.
Path to Hollywood
Stiller began his career writing mockumentaries and was offered a variety sketch series, The Ben Stiller Show, which he produced and hosted for its 13-episode run. The series ran on MTV in 1990 and on Fox in 1992 and 1993, earning him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Program. Transitioning to acting in films, Stiller made his directorial debut with Reality Bites (1994) and went on to direct and star in films such as The Cable Guy (1996) and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013). He also starred in a string of successful studio comedies, including Along Came Polly (2004), Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004), Starsky & Hutch (2004), and Tower Heist (2011). His performances in independent films include Flirting with Disaster (1996), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), and the Noah Baumbach films Greenberg (2010), While We’re Young (2014), and The Meyerowitz Stories (2017).
Ben Stiller Career
Early Career (1975–1990)
Stiller’s first notable work came when he was approximately 15, obtaining a small part with one line on the television soap opera Guiding Light. He was later cast in a role in the 1986 Broadway revival of John Guare’s The House of Blue Leaves, alongside John Mahoney. During its run, Stiller produced a satirical mockumentary whose principal was fellow actor Mahoney. Stiller’s comedic work was well received by the cast and crew of the play, and he followed up with a 10-minute short titled The Hustler of Money, a parody of the Martin Scorsese film The Color of Money. The short got the attention of Saturday Night Live, which aired it in 1987 and two years later offered Stiller a spot as a writer. In 1989, Stiller wrote for and appeared on Saturday Night Live as a featured performer. However, since the show did not want him to make more short films, he left after four episodes.
Breakthrough (1990–2000)
Producers at MTV were so impressed with Stiller’s work that they offered him a 13-episode show in the experimental “vid-com” format titled The Ben Stiller Show. The series mixed comedy sketches with music videos and parodied various television shows, music stars, and films. Although the show was canceled after its first season, it led to another show titled The Ben Stiller Show on the Fox Network in 1992. The series aired 12 episodes on Fox, with a 13th unaired episode broadcast by Comedy Central in a later revival. Throughout its short run, The Ben Stiller Show garnered critical acclaim and eventually won an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program” posthumously.
In 2000, Stiller starred in one of his most recognizable roles, a male nurse named Gaylord “Greg” Focker in Meet the Parents, opposite Robert De Niro. The film was well received by critics, grossed over $330 million worldwide, and spawned two sequels. In 2001, Stiller directed his third feature film, Zoolander, in which he also starred as Derek Zoolander. The film featured multiple cameos from a variety of celebrities and became a cult classic.
Notable Works and Milestones
Stiller’s signature works include There’s Something About Mary, Meet the Parents, and Tropic Thunder. He has received numerous awards, including an Emmy Award for his television work.
Ben Stiller Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Ben Stiller has received multiple nominations for prestigious awards, reflecting his impact on the entertainment industry.
Ben Stiller Awards Won
Ben Stiller has won several awards, including an Emmy Award for his work on The Ben Stiller Show, showcasing his talent and contributions to comedy and film.
Ben Stiller Family
Ben Stiller is the son of comedians Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. He has one sister, Amy Stiller, who has appeared in many of his productions.
Personal Life
In May 2000, Stiller married actress Christine Taylor at an oceanfront ceremony in Kauai, Hawaii. The couple has two children, a daughter, Ella Olivia (born 2002), and a son, Quinlin “Quinn” Dempsey (born 2005). After 17 years of marriage, they separated in 2017 but later reconciled during the COVID-19 pandemic. They currently reside in Westchester County, New York.
