It is with a broken heart that ComingSoon.net is bringing you the news that legendary comedian and father of Ben Stiller, Jerry Stiller, has died at the age of 92 due to natural causes. His wife and comedy partner Anne Meara passed away in 2015. His Emmy-winning son took to Twitter to reveal the news and his moving message can be viewed below.
RELATED: E.T. Cinematographer Allen Daviau Dies at Age 77 of COVID-19
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 (@RedHourBen) May 11, 2020
Stiller worked as an actor and a comedian for 60 years, beginning in 1956 through his retirement in 2016, with two of his earliest roles on the big screen being in the 1974 action-thriller The Taking of Pelham One Two Three and Airport 1975 and would struggle to find another key role in film until 1988’s Hairspray.
He would later find major success on the small screen in the acclaimed ’90s sitcom Seinfeld, in which he starred as Frank Costanza, father to Jason Alexander’s George, and would get a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor. Following the conclusion of the series, Stiller would go on to even more TV stardom landing the regular role of Arthur Spooner, father of Kevin James’ character on the late ’90s sitcom The King of Queens, for which he garnered more critical acclaim from critics and audiences.
RELATED: Slumdog Millionaire & Life of Pi Star Irrfan Khan Dies at Age 53
Many fans and former collaborators took to social media to share their sadness over Stiller’s death, some of which include:
Such sad news that my beloved friend, Jerry Stiller, has passed. He was perhaps the kindest man I ever had the honor to work beside. He made me laugh when I was a child and every day I was with him. A great actor, a great man, a lovely friend. #RIPJerryStiller I Love you.
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) May 11, 2020
I remember watching Stiller & Meara as a kid on Ed Sullivan, loving them. Then to work with Jerry, a kind, brilliant comedian who had no idea how great he was. What an honor! He was a giant!
— Wayne Knight (@iWayneKnight) May 11, 2020
#JerryStiller has passed. I had the distinct honor of working with him on “The King of Queens” in 1999.
After the table read, the next day my part was reduced to 2 lines and the role was given to another (older) actor. (Continued) pic.twitter.com/fPTXnVwLhY
— Parry Shen (@parryshen) May 11, 2020
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
