- Jerry Stiller
-
Jerry Stiller 
Stiller in New York City in November 2005Born Gerald Isaac Stiller
June 8, 1927
New York City, U.S.Nationality American Education Seward Park High School Alma mater Syracuse University Spouse Anne Meara
(1954–present)Children Ben Stiller,
Amy StillerGerald Isaac "Jerry" Stiller (born June 8, 1927) is an American comedian and actor.
He spent many years in the comedy team Stiller and Meara with his wife Anne Meara. Stiller and Meara are the parents of actor Ben Stiller (with whom he co-starred in the movies Zoolander, Heavyweights, Hot Pursuit and The Heartbreak Kid) and actress Amy Stiller.
He is best known for his recurring role as Frank Costanza on the television series Seinfeld and his supporting role as Arthur Spooner on the television series The King of Queens.
Contents
Personal life
The eldest of four children,[1] Stiller was born in Brooklyn, New York City, the son of Bella (née Citrin) and William Stiller, a bus driver.[2] He attended Seward Park High School.[3] A drama major at Syracuse University, he gained a Bachelor's degree in Speech and Drama in 1950.
In the 1953 Phoenix Theater production of Coriolanus (produced by John Houseman) Jerry Stiller (along with Gene Saks and Jack Klugman) formed "the best trio of Shakespearian clowns that [he] had ever seen on any stage."[4]
Stiller has two children, actor/comedian Ben Stiller and actress Amy Stiller.
Stiller and Meara
The comedy team Stiller and Meara, composed of Stiller and wife Anne Meara, was successful in the 1960s and 1970s, with numerous appearances on television variety programs such as The Ed Sullivan Show. Their career declined as variety series gradually disappeared, but they subsequently forged a career in radio commercials, notably the campaign for Blue Nun wine. They also starred in their own syndicated five-minute sketch comedy show Take Five with Stiller and Meara, in 1977–78. From 1979 to 1982 Stiller and Meara hosted HBO Sneak Previews, a half-hour show produced monthly on which they described the movies and programs to be featured in the coming month.[5] They would also do a few brief comedy sketches between show discussions. The duo's own 1986 TV sitcom, The Stiller and Meara Show, in which Stiller played the deputy mayor of New York City and Meara portrayed his wife, a TV commercial actress, was unsuccessful.
Resurgence
Seinfeld
Jerry Stiller played the irascible Frank Costanza, the father of George Costanza in the sitcom Seinfeld from 1993 to 1998. He was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 1997 and won the American Comedy Award for Funniest Male Guest Appearance in a TV Series for his portrayal of Frank Costanza.
The King of Queens
After Seinfeld's run ended, Stiller had planned on retiring, but Kevin James requested him to join the cast of The King of Queens. Kevin James, who played the leading role of Doug Heffernan, had told Stiller that he needed him in order to have a successful show[citation needed]. Stiller obliged, and played the role of Arthur Spooner, the always scheming (and again, irascible) father of Carrie Heffernan in the situational comedy The King of Queens from 1998 until 2007. Stiller has said this role tested his acting ability more than any others have and that, before being a part of King of Queens, he only saw himself as a "decent actor".
Other appearances
Stiller played himself in filmed skits, opening and closing Canadian rock band Rush's 30th Anniversary Tour concerts in 2004. These appearances are seen on the band's DVD R30 Live In Frankfurt, released in 2005. Stiller later appeared in cameos in later in-concert films for the band's 2008 Snakes & Arrows Tour.
Stiller is a martial arts enthusiast and has hosted the Kumite three times. He also routinely attends UFC events and can be seen in many backstage segments.
In the late 1990s Stiller appeared in a series of Nike television commercials as deceased Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi, which were removed after the Lombardi family members disapproved.
Stiller has appeared in various motion pictures, most notably Zoolander (2001) and Secret of the Andes (1999) with Nancy Allen.
On February 9, 2007, Stiller and his wife were honored with a joint star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On October 28, 2010, Stiller and his wife appeared on an episode of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.
Starting in October 2010, Stiller and his wife began starring in a Yahoo web series called Stiller & Meara from Red Hour Digital, in which they discuss current topics. Each episode lasts about two minutes.[6]
As author
Stiller wrote the foreword to the book Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us (ISBN 0-446-69674-9) by Allen Salkin, released on October 26, 2005.
His memoir, Married to Laughter: A Love Story Featuring Anne Meara, was published in 2000.
Filmography
- Lovers and Other Strangers (1970) as Jim (Carol's Father) (uncredited)
- The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) as Lt. Rico Patrone
- Airport 1975 (1974) as Sam
- The Ritz (1976) as Carmine Vespucci
- Nasty Habits (1977) as P.R. Priest
- Time Express (1979) (TV series)
- Those Lips, Those Eyes (1980) as Mr. Shoemaker
- Madame X (1981) (made for TV)
- Simon & Simon (1982) "The Uncivil Servant" as Harold Traxler
- The McGuffin (1985) as Marty
- Tales from the Darkside (November 10, 1985) in "The Devil's Advocate" (TV)
- Seize the Day (1986) as Dr. Tamkin
- Hot Pursuit (1987) as Victor Honeywell
- Nadine (1987) as Raymond Escobar
- Hairspray (1988) as Wilbur Turnblad
- That's Adequate (1989) as Sid Lane
- Little Vegas (1990) as Sam
- Sweet 15 (1990) as Mr. Waterman
- Freefall (1992) as Emily's Father
- Highway to Hell (1992) as The Desk Cop
- Seinfeld (1993–1998) as Frank Costanza (TV)
- The Pickle (1993) as Phil Hirsch
- Heavyweights (1995) as Harvey Bushkin
- Subway Stories (1997) as man in the subway
- Camp Stories (1997) as Schlomo
- Stag (1997) as Ted
- The Deli (1997) as Petey Cheesecake
- The King of Queens (1998–2007) as Arthur Spooner (TV)
- The Suburbans (1999) as Speedo Silverburg
- A Fish in the Bathtub (1999) as Sam
- Secret of the Andes (1999) as Dr. Golfisch
- The Independent (2000) as Monty Fineman
- My 5 Wives (2000) as Don Giovanni
- Chump Change (2001) as The Colonel
- Zoolander (2001) as Maury Ballstein
- On the Line (2001) as Nathan
- Serving Sara (2002) as Milton the Cop
- Teacher's Pet (2004) (voice) as Pretty Boy
- The Lion King 1½ (2004) (voice) (direct-to-DVD) as Uncle Max
- R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour (2005) as himself
- Hairspray (2007) as Mr. Pinky
- The Heartbreak Kid (2007) as Doc
- Snakes & Arrows Live (video) (2008) as "Heidi"
- Fish Hooks (2010) as Principal Strickler (voice)
- Ice Dreams (2010) as Skipper
- Excuse Me For Living (2012) as Morty[7]
Television
- Fish Hooks as Principal Stickler
- Archie Bunker's Place as Carmine – 1980
- Celebrity Ghost Stories, Season 3, Episode 3(bio.HD)
Short Subjects
- Shoeshine (1987)
- So You Want to Be an Actor (1993)
- Amy Stiller's Breast (2000)
See also
- Stiller and Meara
- The Stiller and Meara Show
- Anne Meara
- Ben Stiller
- Amy Stiller
- Seinfeld
- The King of Queens
References
- ^ http://www.accuracyproject.org/cbe-Stiller,Jerry.html
- ^ Jerry Stiller Biography (1927–)
- ^ Seward Park High School Alumni Association, history http://www.sewardparkhs.com/famousalumni.php
- ^ Houseman, John (1979). Front & Center. New York: Simon and Schuster. pp. 439. ISBN 0-671-24328-4.
- ^ http://www.filmreference.com/film/32/Jerry-Stiller.html
- ^ http://www.stillerandmeara.com
- ^ "Excuse Me For Living". http://www.excusemeforliving.net/.
External links
- Jerry Stiller at the Internet Movie Database
- The Stiller and Meara Show at Internet Movie Database
- Jerry Stiller at the Internet Broadway Database
- Jerry Stiller at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Festivus: The website for the rest of us – Website for Festivus Book to which Stiller wrote foreword, includes Festivus movies, songs, forum and grievances
- Jerry Stiller – Internet Accuracy Project
- Exclusive Jerry Stiller Interview at TrulyHollywood.com (March 21, 2007)
- Stiller and Meara article at talkingcomedy.com
Categories:- 1927 births
- American comedians
- American film actors
- American television actors
- American voice actors
- Jewish American writers
- Jewish comedians
- Living people
- People from Manhattan
- People from New York City
- People from Queens
- Second City alumni
- American people of Austrian-Jewish descent
- American people of Russian-Jewish descent
- Syracuse University alumni
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