22 Facts About Jerry Stiller

Gerald Isaac Stiller was an American actor and comedian.

Jerry Stiller spent many years as part of the comedy duo Stiller and Meara with his wife, Anne Meara, to whom he was married for over 60 years until her death in 2015.

Jerry Stiller saw a late-career resurgence starting in 1993, playing George Costanza's father Frank on the sitcom Seinfeld, a part which earned him an Emmy nomination.

The year Seinfeld went off the air, Jerry Stiller began his role as the eccentric Arthur Spooner on the CBS comedy series The King of Queens, another role which garnered him widespread acclaim.

Jerry Stiller appeared together with his son Ben Jerry Stiller in films such as Zoolander, Heavyweights, Hot Pursuit, The Heartbreak Kid, and Zoolander 2.

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Jerry Stiller performed voice-over work for films and television, including The Lion King 1½ and Planes: Fire and Rescue.

Eldest of four children, Jerry Stiller was born on June 8,1927, at Unity Hospital in Brooklyn, New York City, to Bella and William Jerry Stiller, a taxi and bus driver.

Jerry Stiller's paternal grandparents immigrated from Galicia, and his mother was born in Frampol, Poland.

Jerry Stiller lived in the Williamsburg and East New York neighborhoods before his family moved to the Lower East Side, where he attended Seward Park High School and played Adolf Hitler in a school production.

Also in 1953, Jerry Stiller met actress-comedian Anne Meara, and they married in 1954.

Until Jerry Stiller suggested it, Meara had never thought of doing comedy.

Late in his career, Jerry Stiller earned the part of the short-tempered Frank Costanza, father of George Costanza, on the sitcom Seinfeld, a role which Jerry Stiller played from 1993 until 1998.

Jerry Stiller's character as initially envisioned was a "meek" and "Thurberesque" character that required him to wear a bald cap.

Jerry Stiller agreed and played the role of Arthur Spooner, the father of Carrie Heffernan, from 1998 until 2007.

Jerry Stiller said that this role tested his acting ability more than any other had, and that, before being a part of The King of Queens, he only saw himself as a "decent actor".

Jerry Stiller played himself in filmed skits opening and closing Canadian rock band Rush's 30th Anniversary Tour concerts in 2004.

Jerry Stiller made several appearances on the game show Tattletales with his wife, Anne Meara.

Jerry Stiller appeared in various motion pictures, most notably Zoolander and Secret of the Andes.

Jerry Stiller voiced the announcer on the children's educational show Crashbox.

Jerry Stiller was married to Anne Meara for over 60 years, from 1954 until her death on May 23,2015.

Meara was upset about an interaction with the casting agent, so Jerry Stiller took her out for coffee—all he could afford—and they remained together ever since.

On May 11,2020, Jerry Stiller died from natural causes at his home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, at the age of 92.