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Performer's Film Television & Media Appearances
Biography for
Ben Stiller
Date of Birth
30 November 1965, New York City, New York, USA
Birth Name
Benjamin Edward Stiller
Height
5' 8" (1.73 m)
Mini Biography
Ben Stiller was born on November 30, 1965, in New York, New York to legendary comedians Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. It's not surprising that Ben Stiller has followed in his family's footsteps. Ben's parents made no real effort to keep their son away from the Hollywood lifestyle and he grew up among the stars, wondering just why his parents were so popular. At a young age, he and his sister Amy Stiller would perform plays at home, wearing Amy's tights to perform Shakespeare. Ben also picked up an interest in being on the other side of the camera and, at age 10, began shooting films on his Super 8 camera. The plots were always simple: someone would pick on the shy, awkward Stiller...and then he would always get his revenge. This desire for revenge on the popular, good-looking people may have motivated his teen-angst opus Reality Bites (1994) later in his career. He both directed and performed in the film, which costarred Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke.
Before he even got his start in Hollywood, Ben put in several consistently solid years in the theater. After dropping out of UCLA, he performed in the Tony Award winner, "The House of Blue Leaves". While working on the play, Stiller shot a short spoof of The Color of Money (1986) starring him (in the Tom Cruise role) and his "American Playhouse: The House of Blue Leaves (#6.16)" (1987) costar John Mahoney (in the Paul Newman role). The short film was so funny that Lorne Michaels purchased it and aired it on "Saturday Night Live" (1975). This led to Ben spending a year on the show in 1989.
Ben made his big screen debut in Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun (1987) in 1987. Demonstrating early on the multifaceted tone his career would take, he soon stepped behind the camera to direct Back to Brooklyn for MTV. The network was impressed and gave Stiller his own show, "The Ben Stiller Show" (1992). He recruited fellow offbeat comedians Janeane Garofalo and Andy Dick and created a bitingly satirical show. MTV ended up passing on it, but it was picked up by Fox. Unfortunately, the show was a ratings miss. Stiller was soon out of work, although he did have the satisfaction of picking up an Emmy for the show after its cancellation.
For a while, Ben had to settle for guest appearance work. While he was doing this, he saved up his cash and in the end was able to scrape enough together to make Reality Bites (1994), now a cult classic which is looked upon favorably by the generation it depicted. Ben continued to work steadily for a time, particularly in independent productions where he was more at ease. However, he never quite managed to catch a big break. His first big budget directing job was Jim Carrey's The Cable Guy (1996). Although many critics were impressed, Jim Carrey's fans were not.
In 1998, There's Something About Mary (1998) had propelled Ben into the mainstream spotlight. With his wince-inducing turn in the Farrelly brothers' gross-out film, Ben really "struck a nerve" with mainstream America. In recent years, Ben has starred in such hit movies as Keeping the Faith (2000) and Meet the Parents (2000). Ben excels at cerebral comedy, but he knows how to get down and lowbrow when he needs to, making him one of America's currently most popular performers.
Spouse
Christine Taylor
(13 May 2000 - present) 2 children
Trade Mark
His characters are often arrogant and short tempered
Sarcastic deadpan disposition
Often plays characters who frequently find themselves in very embarrassing, awkward situations
Short but muscular frame
Trivia
Produced a short film parody of The Color of Money (1986) entitled "The Hustler of Money" which got him noticed by "Saturday Night Live" (1975) who eventually offered him employment there.
Brother of Amy Stiller.
Engaged to Christine Taylor. [November 1999]
Longtime girlfriend was Jeanne Tripplehorn.
Is a major fan of Tom Cruise and has impersonated Tom for many years. He even portrayed Tom Cruise's fictitious crazed stunt double, Tom Crooze, on 2000 MTV Movie Awards (2000) (TV) on a segment called Mission: Improbable. (This segment is included on the Mission: Impossible II (2000) DVD.) Tom and Ben have been friends ever since 1996.
Appeared in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (1998) on May 9, 2001 and walked away with $32,000 for Project ALS. He phoned his mother, actress Anne Meara, for help but lost on the question worth $250,000.
Often casts/co-stars with Janeane Garofalo.
Ben and his wife Christine Taylor, have both guest starred on the TV-show "Friends" (1994), though not in the same episode.
Attended UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television.
Daughter, Ella Olivia, born 10 April 2002 in Los Angeles.
Briefly appears in the film clip for the song "Tribute" by Tenacious D, a band that includes fellow actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass. He's one of the people walking past the studio booth in the shopping center.
Ranked #78 in Premiere's 2003 annual Power 100 List. Had ranked #68 in 2002 and #80 in 2001.
His famous parents, Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller, often make cameo appearances in his movies.
Has a Hollywood "clique" of close friends that have often appeared in his movies: Owen Wilson, Jack Black, Kyle Gass and Janeane Garofalo.
Helped Jenifer Estess raised millions of dollars to combat A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig's disease).
His favorite actress of all time is Diane Keaton. He even wrote an article about her for Premiere magazine in 1997.
Frequent co-star of Vince Vaughn, appearing with him in three movies in 2004 alone.
Is a member of, what the media refers to as, "The Frat Pack," along with Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Vince Vaughn, Steve Carell, Owen Wilson, and Luke Wilson. The "Frat Pack" name is a reference to the film, Old School (2003), featuring Vaughn, Ferrell and Luke Wilson, due to the wide number of films featuring the seven actors. Stiller's "Frat Pack" films include Zoolander (2001), Envy (2004), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)..
Is a big fan of "Star Trek" (1966). He named his production company "Red Hour Films" after an alien riot featured in the episode "Star Trek: The Return of the Archons (#1.21)" (1967). Has a humorous, You Tube website "gag" episode of "Star Trek" where he is imitating Shatner's Captain Kirk.
Holds a distinct Razzie Award record - nominated for most titles in one year. He was nominated in 2004 for Worst Actor in five of the six films in which he appeared: Along Came Polly (2004), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004), Envy (2004)_, and Starsky & Hutch (2004). The only film he was not nominated in for that year was Meet the Fockers (2004).
Has played two very similar characters in the movies Heavy Weights (1995) and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004). In both films he plays an obnoxious, slightly insane and formerly overweight fitness instructor who's hell-bent on getting others into shape, and perhaps also on making other peoples' lives miserable.
Played the part of an arrogant director in Get Shorty (1995), but the scene was cut.
In "The King of Queens: Shrink Wrap (#4.25)" (2002) he played his own real-life father's father.
Hosted the MTV Movie Awards in 1996 along with Janeane Garofalo
He and wife Christine Taylor have both guest-starred on the TV series "Arrested Development" (2003). She played "Sally Sitwell", the love interest of "Michael Bluth" (two episodes) and he played the incompetent magician "Tony Wonder" in the episode "The Sword of Destiny".
Wife Christine Taylor gave birth to their second child, Quinlin Dempsey Stiller, on July 10, 2005, 8 lb. 2 oz. in Los Angeles, California.
One of his first showbiz jobs was working as an intern on the Alan Thicke show "Thicke of the Night" (1983).
Mother is Irish-American.
Was considered for the role of "Willy Wonka" in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
Revealed in 2005 that he has bipolar disorder and that it runs in his family.
His wife, Christine Taylor, appeared in one episode of "Seinfeld" (1990) as Jerry Seinfeld's girlfriend. His father, Jerry Stiller, had a recurring role on that series as George Costanza's father.
Every so often he and his father enjoy getting together and going to Alaska to fish in the summer.
2007 - Ranked #20 on EW's The 50 Smartest People in Hollywood.
In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his earnings for the year to be $38 million.
Along with Kirk R. Thatcher, one of the few actors to give William Shatner the middle finger (jokingly) on screen.
According to Jews Who Rock, a book by Guy Oseary, Stiller was once a drummer in a band called Capital Punishment.
Fractured his hand in a snowboarding accident on Sunday, December 21, 2008 and was taken to New York's Mount Sinai Hospital.
Auditioned for a part in Platoon, even meeting with Oliver Stone.
Admitted in a Playboy Magazine interview that he auditioned for three or four years before he got a part.
Longtime friend of actor Anthony Barrile. They met at 12 years old as members of First All Children's Theatre Company in New York City, where they were among the 'Meri-Mini Players'.
Lives in Los Angeles, California.
Merited a position in Time magazine's - The 100 Most Influential People in the World ("Heroes" category) - with an homage contributed by friend Robert De Niro. [May 10, 2010]
Along with Gerard Butler, Demi Moore, Susan Sarandon, and director Paul Haggis, he visited a camp for internally displaced persons managed by Sean Penn and his Jenkins-Penn Humanitarian Relief Organization in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. [April 2010]
Personal Quotes
[on advice he receives from his father, Jerry Stiller] My father is always telling me to take care of myself and get a lot of rest. He's always saying, "Sleep will fix anything. Go take a nap". I think he's right. I find when I get frazzled, if I get a good night's sleep, I feel much better about things.
If my parents were, like, plumbers, who knows what I would be doing?
There's an old saying in Hollywood: It's not the length of your film, it's how you use it.
I have no problem with straight actors playing gay, but I always feel like I can tell. Does that sound horrible?
I have not been an easygoing guy. I think it's called bipolar manic depression. I've got a rich history of that in my family. Our family has publicly gone into therapy, so that's out in the open.
I pay a huge chunk of money to my agent and publicity people to shield me from my fan mail. I don't even want to know how many letters I get. I don't see fan mail as a good thing. It always makes me think of stalkers.
Normally, people tend to shut off their ambitions and competitive thinking because it doesn't help them much in normal life. But in the movie business you've constantly got to prove yourself. So I can be a real asshole on the set sometimes.
Show business is great, but when you're in a movie that made more than $120 million, the perspective changes. I'd never had the experience of being in a movie that so many people found funny. After the enormous success of There's Something About Mary (1998), I was able to command much more money and I got recognized more. But the reason for all this is only because the movie made money, not because I'm any more talented or better looking.
Every actor is out there trying to get parts, auditioning, going to acting class and creating a network of people who are in the same position you are. I couldn't sit around and wait to get work, because it wasn't happening. I would just try to create my own projects with friends who were filmmakers.
I think most actors have incredibly big egos, but they're also incredibly insecure. That's a bad combination. I include myself in this group. For whatever psychological reasons, we want and need approval from everybody in the universe, though we also think we're totally unworthy of it. We need to validate ourselves through our work.
(On his most memorable pre-acting job) For a summer I was a busboy and waiter at a place in New York called Cafe Central, which was a hip, trendy restaurant in 1985. First I bused tables and was really bad at it. I'm clumsy at carrying plates and glasses. You had to have a swiftness and a facility for carrying stacked objects. That wasn't me. I was interested in who was coming in, because it was an actor hangout. I would want to see who was talking to whom and what they were saying - basically, stuff you shouldn't do as a person of service. Dudley Moore came into the restaurant and I was really interested in what he was saying. I kept going over to make sure that he and his companion had enough coffee and that their plates were cleared. I think I really annoyed him. I kept changing the ashtrays with that move where you put the clean ashtray over the full ashtray and remove both and put back the clean ashtray. I think I did that one time too many. Then I became a waiter there, and dealing with orders and the kitchen was worse. It prompted me to get acting work.
(1998 quote on auditioning) It's hard to maintain a sense of dignity in an audition. I have done so many auditions where I've put it out there and have been met with that kind of blank stare - "Great! Thanks! OK! Great work! Thanks for coming in!" At the door I'm thinking, 'What the hell am I doing with my life?'
Salary
There's Something About Mary (1998)
$3,000,000
Zoolander (2001)
$2,500,000
Greenberg (2010)
$6,000,000
Little Fockers (2010)
$20,000,000
The Big Year (2011)
$1,000,000 (producer)
Tower Heist (2011)
$15,000,000
Where Are They Now
(July 2007) Filming Tropic Thunder (2008).
Filmography
2014 Zoolander 2 (announced)
Derek Zoolander
2013 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (post-production)
Walter Mitty
2012 He's Way More Famous Than You (post-production)
Ben Stiller
2012/I The Watch
Evan
2012 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
Alex (voice)
2012 Eagleheart (TV series)
Silly Sammy
– Silly Sammy (2012) … Silly Sammy
2011 Tower Heist
Josh Kovaks
2011 Funny or Die Presents... (TV series)
Ben (segment "Do You Want to See a Dead Body?")
– Episode #2.3 (2011) … Ben (segment "Do You Want to See a Dead Body?")
2010 Little Fockers
Greg Focker
1987-2010 Saturday Night Live (TV series)
Various / Tom Cruise / Vincent Lauria / …
– Robert De Niro/Diddy-Dirty Money (2010) … Various (uncredited)
– Alan Cumming/Jennifer Lopez (2000) … Wes
– Dolly Parton (1989) … Various
– Mel Gibson/Living Colour (1989) … Various
– Mary Tyler Moore/Elvis Costello (1989) … Various
See all 6 episodes »
2010 The Trip (TV series)
Ben Stiller
– L'Enclume (2010) … Ben Stiller (uncredited)
2010 Megamind
Bernard (voice)
2010/I The Trip
Ben Stiller (uncredited)
2010 Submarine
Soap Opera Star (uncredited)
2010 Phineas and Ferb (TV series)
Khaka Peü Peü
– The Beak (2010) … Khaka Peü Peü (voice)
2010 Greenberg
Roger Greenberg
2010 The Rooneys (TV short)
2009 Merry Madagascar (TV short)
Alex (voice)
2009 The Marc Pease Experience
Jon Gribble
2009 Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Larry Daley
2009 Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (Video Game)
Larry Daley (voice)
2008 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Alex (voice)
2008 Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness (video short)
Tugg Speedman (uncredited)
2008 Tropic Thunder
Tugg Speedman - Hot LZ
2007 Elmo's Christmas Countdown (TV movie)
Stiller the Elf (voice)
2004-2007 Curb Your Enthusiasm (TV series)
Ben Stiller
– The N Word (2007) … Ben Stiller
– The Blind Date (2004) … Ben Stiller
– Ben's Birthday Party (2004) … Ben Stiller
– Mel's Offer (2004) … Ben Stiller
2007 The Heartbreak Kid
Eddie
2007 Family Guy (TV series)
Ben Stiller
– No Meals on Wheels (2007) … Ben Stiller (voice) (uncredited)
2006 Night at the Museum
Larry Daley
2006 Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Guitar Center Guy
2006 Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Event for Autism Education (TV movie)
David Blaine
2006 School for Scoundrels
Lonnie
2006 Danny Roane: First Time Director
Ben Stiller
2005-2006 Arrested Development (TV series)
Tony Wonder
– S.O.B.s (2006) … Tony Wonder (uncredited)
– Sword of Destiny (2005) … Tony Wonder
2005 Extras (TV series)
Ben Stiller
– Ben Stiller (2005) … Ben Stiller
2005 Madagascar
Alex (voice)
2005 Confessions of an Action Star
Commander (uncredited)
2004 Meet the Fockers
Greg Focker
2004 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Arturo Mendes
2004 Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
White Goodman
2004 Envy
Tim Dingman
2004 What's the Name of That Song (video)
2004 Starsky & Hutch
David Starsky
2004 King of the Hill (TV series)
Rich
– That's What She Said (2004) … Rich (voice)
2004 Along Came Polly
Reuben Feffer
2003 Nobody Knows Anything!
Peach Expert (uncredited)
2003 Duplex
Alex Rose
2003 Liberty's Kids: Est. 1776 (TV series)
Thomas Jefferson
– Conflict in the South (2003) … Thomas Jefferson
2003 Pauly Shore Is Dead
Ben Stiller (uncredited)
2002 Robbie the Reindeer in Legend of the Lost Tribe (TV short)
Robbie the Reindeer (voice: US version)
2002 Prehistoric Planet (TV series)
Narrator (voice)
2002 The King of Queens (TV series)
Jerry - Arthur Spooner's Father
– Shrink Wrap (2002) … Jerry - Arthur Spooner's Father
2002 Legs to Stand On (short)
Larry
2002 Undeclared (TV series)
Rex
– Eric's POV (2002) … Rex
2002 The Simpsons (TV series)
Garth Motherloving
– Sweets and Sour Marge (2002) … Garth Motherloving (voice)
2002 Orange County
The Firefighter (uncredited)
2002 Reel Comedy (TV series)
– Night at the Museum
2001 The Royal Tenenbaums
Chas Tenenbaum
2001 Zoolander
Derek Zoolander
2000 Meet the Parents
Gaylord 'Greg' Focker
2000 Freaks and Geeks (TV series)
Agent Meara
– The Little Things (2000) … Agent Meara
2000 Keeping the Faith
Rabbi Jake Schram
2000 The Independent
Cop
2000 Mission: Improbable (TV short)
Tom Crooze
1999 Hooves of Fire (TV short)
Robbie the Reindeer (voice: US version)
1999/I Black and White
Mark Clear
1999 Mystery Men
Mr. Furious
1999 The Suburbans
Jay Rose
1999 Heat Vision and Jack (TV short)
Strip Club DJ (uncredited) / Himself (uncredited)
1998 Permanent Midnight
Jerry Stahl
1998 Your Friends & Neighbors
Jerry
1998 There's Something About Mary
Ted
1998 Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (TV series)
Ben Stiller
– Ticket (1998) … Ben Stiller
1998 Zero Effect
Steve Arlo
1998 Behind the Zipper with Magda (video short)
Ted Stroehmann
1998 Backstreet Boyz (TV short)
1997 Derek Zoolander University (TV short)
Derek Zoolander
1997 Friends (TV series)
Tommy
– The One with the Screamer (1997) … Tommy
1997 Viva Variety (TV series)
Ben Stiller
– Episode #1.2 (1997) … Ben Stiller
1997 The Larry Sanders Show (TV series)
Ben Stiller
– Make a Wish (1997) … Ben Stiller
1996 NewsRadio (TV series)
Vic
– The Trainer (1996) … Vic
1996 Mr. Show with Bob and David (TV series)
Jimmy
– If You're Going to Write a Comedy Scene, You're Going to Have Some Rat Feces in There (1996) … Jimmy
1996 Derek Zoolander: Male Model (TV short)
Derek Zoolander
1996 The Cable Guy
Sam Sweet / Stan Sweet
1996 Flirting with Disaster
Mel Coplin
1996 If Lucy Fell
Bwick Elias
1996 Happy Gilmore
Hal L. - Orderly in Nursing Home (uncredited)
1995 Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man (TV series)
Harry Medfly
– Clip Job (1995) … Harry Medfly (voice)
1995 Heavy Weights
Tony Perkis / Tony Perkis Sr.
1994 Reality Bites
Michael Grates
1993 Frasier (TV series)
Barry
– Miracle on Third or Fourth Street (1993) … Barry (voice)
1993 2 Stupid Dogs (TV series)
Additional Voices
1992 The Nutt House
Pie thrower (uncredited)
1991 Highway to Hell
Pluto's Cook / Attila the Hun
1990 Working Tra$h (TV movie)
Freddy Novak
1990 Stella
Jim Uptegrove
1989 Next of Kin
Lawrence Isabella
1989 That's Adequate
Chip Lane
1989 Elvis Stories (short)
Bruce
1988 Fresh Horses
Tipton
1987 Empire of the Sun
Dainty
1987 Miami Vice (TV series)
Fast Eddie Felcher
– Amen... Send Money (1987) … Fast Eddie Felcher
1987 American Playhouse (TV series)
Ronnie Shaughnessy
– The House of Blue Leaves (1987) … Ronnie Shaughnessy
1987 Hot Pursuit
Chris Honeywell
1987 The Hustler of Money (TV short)
Vince
1987 Shoeshine (short)
1986 Kate & Allie (TV series)
Peter
– Too Late the Rebel (1986) … Peter
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