Early Monday morning, a legendary actor and beloved father passed away. The father of Ben Stiller, Jerry Stiller, passed away Monday morning at age 92. According to his family, Jerry’s death was from natural causes. The beloved comedic actor was famously seen in “Seinfeld,” and “King of Queens.”
Writing about his father on Twitter, son Ben Stiller wrote “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.”
Jerry Stiller was known primarily for his comedic roles. In “Seinfeld,” he played Constanza, George’s father, for some 26 episodes. He first appeared on the show in 1993, and was a recurring actor through the show’s run.
Long before he was known for his sitcom appearances, however, Stiller was already a renowned actor. In the 1960s, he appeared alongside wife Anne Meara on the Ed Sullivan Show as a comedy act. The two made no less than 36 appearances on the variety show, delighting audiences.
Likewise, Jerry Stiller had a long career on Broadway long before he appeared on Seinfeld. The actor was just as comfortable in dramatic roles with serious overtones as he was in goofy comedies. However, his comedic talents are what endeared him to audiences throughout his long career.
Jerry’s son, Ben Stiller, is also known for his comedic chops. The two both starred in Ben’s 2001 comedy film “Zoolander,” where Ben plays the titular male model, Derek Zoolander, and Jerry plays his manager, Maury Ballstein. The film was well-received, due in large part to the hilarious chemistry between the father and son pair.
Alongside the Stiller boys were Anne Meara, Jerry’s wife, and Amy Stiller, Ben’s sister, in quick cameo appearances. What’s more, Ben’s wife Christine Taylor even appeared as a reporter in the film. Essentially, the entire Stiller family was involved in the production of the project. This comes as no surprise, though, as Ben himself directed the comedy.
Somewhat poetically, Jerry’s last film appearance before his death was 2016’s “Zoolander 2.” He appeared in a brief cameo, reprising his role as Maury from the first film.
It is unknown if Stiller was still living alone or if he was in an assisted living facility. Due to his family’s considerable wealth, he likely didn’t need Humana senior care, and could have been afforded the finest of treatment.
In the official statement, Jerry Stiller’s cause of death is simply given as “natural causes.” He is survived by son Ben and daughter Amy. His wife, Anne, passed away in 2015.
