Ben Stiller has shared the news that his father, actor and comedian Jerry Stiller, has died at 92 years of age.
Jerry Stiller was best known for his role as Frank Costanza on Seinfeld, but had a long career performing comedy routines with his with Anne Meara. He also played Zoolander‘s manager in the hit comedy film starring and directed by his son, and was also known as Leah Remini’s dad on The King Of Queens.
He appeared in 26 episodes of Jerry Seinfeld’s Seinfeld from 1993 to 1998, as the father of George Costanza (played by Jason Alexander), receiving an Emmy nomination in 1997.
Though his star rose highest in the comedy genre, Stiller was also a dramatic actor and had a long history in Broadway musicals.
His son Ben confirmed that Stiller died of natural causes in a post on Twitter.
“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
Stiller was born in 1927 in New York and graduated from Syracuse University with a B.S. in speech and drama. He also studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village and served in the US Army during the second world war.
His screen debut came in 1956 in a segment on Studio One In Hollywood. He rose to prominence with his wife Meara in the 1960s, appearing as ‘Stiller and Meara’ 36 times on The Ed Sullivan Show. Meara passed away in 2015.
Stiller first appeared on screen with his son Ben in Hot Pursuit in 1987, and would go on to appear in several other feature films with his wife and others with his son.
He was nominated for a Grammy in 2001 for Best Spoken World Album for Married to Laughter: A Love Story Featuring Anne Meara. Stiller was awarded a shared star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame for he and Meara in 2007.