Ben Stiller announces death of father and Seinfeld star Jerry Stiller
Written by News on 12/05/2020
Jerry Stiller, the father of fellow actor and comedian Ben Stiller, has died from natural causes at the age of 92.
Ben Stiller announced the news on Twitter, saying: “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.”
Jerry Stiller, best known for playing George Costanza’s father Frank in Seinfeld and Arthur Spooner in King Of Queens, was born in Depression-era New York on 8 June 1927 – the son of a bus driver and housewife.
He was inspired to enter show business at the age of eight when his father took him to see the Marx Brothers in the comedy classic A Night at the Opera, and later earned a drama degree after serving in the Second World War.
His career really took off after meeting wife Anne Meara in 1953, with whom he formed a popular double act.
The couple had been married for some 60 years when she passed away in 2015, aged 85.
They starred on several TV variety shows during the 1960s and 1970s, and also appeared in a one-off Broadway production written by Meara – called After-Play – in 1995.
Stiller’s roles in Seinfeld and King Of Queens in the 1990s represented something of a resurgence, with the former proving especially popular with fans.
He played Jason Alexander’s on-screen father for six years and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 1997.
Away from the stage and screen, Stiller and Meara raised two children – Ben and Amy – at their home in Manhattan.
Ben Stiller, 54, has enjoyed a long career as a writer, director and actor, starring in a number of family favourite film series including the Night At The Museum and Madagascar trilogies.
His father appeared alongside him in some of his films, including the 2001 comedy Zoolander and its 2016 sequel.
Amy also followed in her parents’ footsteps by becoming an actress and comedian.
(c) Sky News 2020: Ben Stiller announces death of father and Seinfeld star Jerry Stiller
