Ben Stiller biography
Benjamin Edward "Ben" Stiller (born November 30, 1965) is an Emmy Award-winning United States comedian, actor, film producer and film director. He is the son of veteran comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. After beginning his acting career with a play, he wrote several mockumentaries, and was offered two of his own shows, both entitled
The Ben Stiller Show. After acting in a few films, Stiller had his directorial debut with
Reality Bites, and has since written, starred in, directed, and produced over fifty films and television shows. His films have grossed $1.38 billion.
He is a member of the comedic acting brotherhood known as the Frat Pack. With multiple cameos in music videos, television shows, and films, he may be best known for his roles in
Heavyweights,
Zoolander,
Starsky & Hutch (film),
There's Something About Mary,
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,
Meet the Parents, and
Night at the Museum. Throughout his career, he has received several awards and honors including an Emmy Award, several MTV Movie Awards, and a Teen Choice Awards. Stiller's most recent role was in the movie
Tropic Thunder (2008), which he also wrote and directed.
Biography
Early life
Stiller was born in New York City. Stiller's father Jerry Stiller is Jewish and his mother Anne Meara, who is of Irish Catholic background, converted to Judaism after marrying his father. His parents frequently took him on the sets of their appearances, including an appearance on
The Mike Douglas Show when he was six. He admitted in an interview that he considered his childhood unusual: "In some ways, it was a show-business upbringing—a lot of traveling, a lot of late nights—not what you'd call traditional." His older sister, actress Amy Stiller, appeared in his movie
Dodgeball in a short scene as a waitress at a restaurant. He displayed an early interest in film making and made Super 8 mm film movies with his sister and friends.
After he graduated from the Calhoun school in New York in 1983, he enrolled as a film student at the University of California, Los Angeles and joined Beta Theta Pi fraternity. After nine months, Stiller left school to move back to New York City. He made his way through acting classes, auditioning, and trying to find an agent.
Beginning career
He landed a role in the Broadway theatre revival of John Guare's
The House of Blue Leaves, alongside John Mahoney, a play which later garnered four Tonys.
Directorial debut
After a few minor film roles in the early 1990s, such as
Stella (film),
Highway to Hell (film), and a cameo in
The Nutt House, Stiller devoted his time on writing, fund raising, recruiting cast members, and directing
Reality Bites. The film also connected Stiller with future Frat Pack members Jack Black and Owen Wilson. Also in 1996, MTV invited Stiller to host the VH1 Fashion Awards. Along with Saturday Night Live writer Drake Sather, Stiller developed a short film for the awards about a male model known as Derek Zoolander. It was so well received that Stiller developed another short film about the character for the 1997 VH1 Fashion Awards and finally remade the skit into a film. and shots of the World Trade Center had to be digitally removed and hidden for the film's release after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
After Stiller invited Owen Wilson to star in
Zoolander, Wilson returned the favor and invited Stiller to play Chas Tenenbaum in
The Royal Tenenbaums. Over the next two years, Stiller continued on with the lackluster box office film
Duplex (film) and several cameos in
Orange County (film) and
Nobody Knows Anything!. He also guest-starred on several television shows, including an appearance in an episode of the television series
King Of Queens as the father of the character Arthur (who was played by Stiller's father, Jerry Stiller) in a flashback. He also made a special guest appearance on World Wrestling Entertainment's WWE Raw.
2004 would be Stiller's busiest year as he acted in six different films. All six of the films were comedies, and include some of his highest grossing films. They include
Starsky & Hutch (film),
Envy (film),
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, an uncredited cameo in
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,
Along Came Polly, and
Meet the Fockers. Although
Envy only grossed $14.5 million worldwide, his most successful film of the year was
Meet the Fockers, which grossed over $516.5 million worldwide. In 2005, Stiller would begin his first attempt at a computer-animated film with
Madagascar (film), which performed so well at the box office that it resulted in a Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa due in 2008.
In 2006, Stiller had two cameos, one in
School for Scoundrels (2006 film), and
Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny, of which he was the executive producer. In December, Stiller starred in the lead role of
Night at the Museum. Although the film received many poor reviews, the film earned over $115 million in ten days. In 2007, Stiller starred alongside Malin Akerman in the romantic comedy
The Heartbreak Kid (2007 film). His most recent film,
Tropic Thunder, a film he directed, wrote, and starred in was released on August 13, 2008.
Upcoming work
Stiller has several upcoming films in 2008 and 2009, including
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. He will provide a voice for one of the characters in
The Smurfs (film). In February 2007, it was announced that Stiller would star alongside Jason Schwartzman in
The Marc Pease Experience as a former theater teacher and star alongside Tom Cruise in a comedy adaptation of
The Hardy Boys entitled
Hardy Men. When speaking about working with Tom Cruise Stiller said, "I'd be very excited about working with him, because I've always been a huge fan". Stiller will also produce the upcoming
Date School. Stiller runs together with Stuart Cornfeld the Red Hour Productions company. The company will produce the comedy television show
Gods Behaving Badly based on Marie Phillips' novel. In 2009, he will star in the sequel
Night at the Museum 2: Escape from the Smithsonian and
Hardy Men is still in pre-production.
The Frat Pack
Stiller is the "acknowledged leader" of the Frat Pack, a core group of actors that has worked together in multiple films. The group includes actors Jack Black, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, and Steve Carell. Stiller has been acknowledged as the leader of the group due to his multiple cameos and for his offering the other members movie roles in films he is involved with while producing and directing. He dated several actresses during his early television and film career including Jeanne Tripplehorn, Janeane Garofalo, Calista Flockhart and Amanda Peet. In May 2000, Stiller married Christine Taylor, whom he met while filming a never-broadcast television pilot for the FOX network called
Heat Vision and Jack, which starred Jack Black (actor). The couple appeared onscreen together in
Zoolander and
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. He and Taylor reside in Hollywood Hills
Stiller is a supporter of the Democratic Party (United States) and donated money to John Kerry's 2004 U.S. Presidential campaign. In February 2007, Stiller attended a fundraiser for Barack Obama and later donated to Obama's, John Edwards, and Hillary Clinton's 2008 U.S. Presidential campaigns. Stiller is also a supporter of several charities including Declare Yourself, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation.
In a 1999 interview with
GQ (magazine) and later in a 2001 interview with Hollywood.com, Stiller stated that he had bipolar disorder, an illness he said that ran in his family. In two interviews in November and December 2006, Stiller claimed that this earlier interview's comment about the disorder was false. In one interview he said: "I said jokingly in
GQ that I was, like, crazy, and it came out as: Ben Stiller, bipolar manic-depressive!"
Stiller frequently does impersonations of many of his favorite performers, including Bono, Tom Cruise, Bruce Springsteen, and David Blaine. In an interview with
Parade (magazine), he commented that Robert Klein, George Carlin, and Jimmie Walker were inspirations for his comedy career.
filming
pre-production
's video for their song
All Star (song) as it shows scenes of him being portrayed as Mr. Furious from the film
Mystery Men.
- Limp Bizkit's video for their hit song "Rollin," in which he gives the keys to friend Fred Durst to watch/park his car--Stiller's friend tells Durst, "Don't scratch it." He also appeared in the hidden track at the end of their album,
Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water.
- Tenacious D's video "Tribute (song)", in which he merely walks across the shot in the mall during the climax of the song.
- Sean Combs's "Bad Boy for Life" video as P. Diddy's neighbor.
- Jack Johnson (musician)'s music video, "Taylor," in which he runs over a chicken. An extended version of the video features Ben as a pedantic director, frequently interrupting and instructing Jack.
- Beastie Boys' 2006 in-concert movie
Awesome: I Fuckin' Shot That!, when Stiller and his wife appear among the audience members caught on amateur camera footage. Stiller is shown rapping along to three songs, then in a brief vox pops-style interview during the closing credits.
- Stiller also appears as a supermarket manager in Travis (band)' video of their 2007 single "Closer (Travis song)".
Awards and honors
- For his work in
The Ben Stiller Show, he was awarded an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program". He released six films in 2004 and
Meet the Fockers was the only film he was not nominated for.
- He has been nominated twelve times for the Teen Choice Awards and won once for "Choice Hissy Fit" for his work in
Zoolander. He also was nominated by the MTV Movie Awards thirteen times and won three times for "Best Fight" in
There's Something About Mary, "Best Comedic Performance" in
Meet the Parents, and "Best Villain" in
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.
- Princeton University's Class of 2005 inducted Stiller as an honorary member of the class during its "Senior Week" in April 2005.
- On February 23, 2007 Stiller received the Hasty Pudding Man of the Year award from Harvard's Hasty Pudding Theatricals. According to the organization, the award is given to performers who give a lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment.
- On March 31, 2007, Stiller received the "Wannabe Award" from the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.
Further reading
- Bankston, John.
Ben Stiller (Real-Life Reader Biography). Mitchell Lane Publishers, 2002. ISBN 1584151323.
- Dougherty, Terri.
Ben Stiller (People in the News). Lucent Books, 2006. ISBN 1590187237.
Ben Stiller in the news
Ben Stiller breaks hand - SheKnows.com
SheKnows.comBen Stiller breaks handSheKnows.com, AZ - Dec 30, 2008Stiller was snowboarding the weekend before Christmas and required a trip to the hospital after a downhill tangle left his hand mangled. ...Stiller To Star In Baumbach’s Latest Martiniboys.comBen Stiller breaks hand Sowetanall 3 news articles
read moreThe Master Cleanser: Day 2 - Dallas Observer
The Master Cleanser: Day 2Dallas Observer, TX - 53 minutes agoIt's designed to flush and cleanse my colon, but at this point I'd rather go all Ben Stiller in Tropic Thunder and just yank my intestines through a bullet ...
read moreFilm Interview - Ben Stiller / 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa...
Film Interview - Ben Stiller / 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa’Event Guide, Ireland - Jan 3, 2009In ‘Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa’, Ben Stiller's cartoon lion tries to live up to his father's expectations. “That's certainly something I could relate to,” ...
read moreShiny happy movies - Channel News Asia
Shiny happy moviesChannel News Asia, Singapore - Jan 4, 2009The artefacts at the American Museum of Natural History come to life and chase a night guard (Ben Stiller) in this comedic romp. And romp he does, ...
read moreBen Stiller: The Hand-Break Kid - E! Online
Stuff.co.nzBen Stiller: The Hand-Break KidE! Online - Dec 23, 2008The actor-director required a trip to the hospital over the weekend after a downhill mishap, E! News has learned. "I can confirm he broke his hand ...Snowboarding Ben Stiller Breaks Hand PopeaterBen Stiller in snowboarding accident Stuff.co.nzBen Stiller hurt in snowboarding accident ABC7Chicago.comUnited Press International - OK! Magazineall 56 news articles
read moreUK boutique private client manager hires from rival - Wealth Bulletin
UK boutique private client manager hires from rivalWealth Bulletin, UK - 4 hours agoLast December, Ingenious Media announced a 39% rise in profits to £28m for 2008, helped by higher receipts from films it backed including Ben Stiller’s ...
read moreBen Stiller's 'healthy' 2009 - China Daily
China DailyBen Stiller's 'healthy' 2009China Daily, China - Dec 29, 2008The 'Tropic Thunder' star confessed the new year had crept up on him and says he has not even thought about making any resolutions to better himself, ...
read moreBen Stiller replacing Mark Ruffalo in drama - Reuters
E! OnlineBen Stiller replacing Mark Ruffalo in dramaReuters - Dec 10, 2008By Steven Zeitchik LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Ben Stiller is set to replace Mark Ruffalo on "Greenburg," a comedy-drama from indie filmmaker Noah ...Stiller Fills Ruffalo Role in Wake of Tragedy TheCelebrityCafe.comStiller to Replace Ruffalo in Greenburg CanMagBen Stiller to replace Mark Ruffalo in 'Greenburg' Monsters and Critics.comAHN - Radar Onlineall 45 news articles
read moreAsk 411 Movies for 01.05.09: The Column that Spent 30 Years in a .....
Ask 411 Movies for 01.05.09: The Column that Spent 30 Years in a ...411mania.com, TX - Jan 4, 2009In the sequel, Ben Stiller's character breaks into the Smithsonian to save Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan's characters. In Apollo 13, Howard played NASA tech ...
read moreWeezer vs. Ben Stiller - ClickZ News
Weezer vs. Ben StillerClickZ News, NY - Dec 22, 2008Contrast this upbeat piece with the cynically viral video created by Ben Stiller and crew that first aired during the MTV Movie Awards. ...
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