Actor-comedian Jerry Stiller has passed away of natural causes at the age of 92. “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,” his son Ben Stiller wrote in a message on Twitter.
Depending on one’s age, Stiller is most familiar for his Emmy-nominated role as Frank Costanza on “Seinfeld” or as half of the comedy duo Stiller and Meara, which mined comedy from his interfaith marriage to Irish-Catholic Anne Meara. (Meara converted to Judaism in 1961 and died in 2015).
Tribe members Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Billy Eichner, and Gilbert Gottfried to name a few went to Twitter to remember Stiller.
— Jerry Seinfeld (@JerrySeinfeld) May 11, 2020
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
Yeah. I adored this man. pic.twitter.com/4YiaTLJh4C
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) May 11, 2020
Seeing Jerry Stiller on screen instantly made you happy. Just a beloved person in comedy, in NYC, in show business in general. Sending love and condolences to @RedHourBen.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) May 11, 2020
On stage or off he could put a smile on your face. Photo credit Arlene Gottfried. RIP Jerry Stiller pic.twitter.com/U3fRr9QTwM
— Gilbert Gottfried (@RealGilbert) May 11, 2020
The Brooklyn-born Stiller, a World War II veteran who studied theater at Syracuse University, appeared on Broadway numerous times, winning raves for his role as a Jewish screenwriter in the Mike Nichols-directed David Rabe play “HurlyBurly” in 1984.
Stiller also played Arthur Spooner on “King of Queens” and appeared with Ben on screen in several films, including “Hot Pursuit,” “Heavyweights,” “The Heartbreak Kid,” and “Zoolander,” playing the manager to his son’s titular male model.
Although he was best known for comedy, Stiller appeared in such dramas as “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three,” “Homicide: Life on the Street,” “Law & Order,” and more recently “The Good Wife,” playing Judge Felix Alterman in 2011.
Also an author, Stiller wrote a memoir titled “Married to Laughter: A Love Story Featuring Anne Meara.” His spoken word album version of it earned him a Grammy nomination in 2001. He and Meara share a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, awarded in 2007.
Stiller is also survived by his daughter, Amy.
