Jerry Stiller, comedian and ‘Seinfeld’ actor, dies at 92
Jerry Stiller, who for decades teamed with wife Anne Meara in a beloved comedy duo and then reached new heights in his senior years as the high-strung Frank Costanza on the classic sitcom 'Seinfeld' and the basement-dwelling father-in-law on 'The King of Queens,' died at 92, his son Ben Stiller announced Monday.
"I'm sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes," his son said in a tweet.
"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," wrote Ben, who followed in his father's comedic footsteps and became an A-list box office star.
Jerry Stiller was a multi-talented performer who appeared in an assortment of movies, playing Walter Matthau's police sidekick in the thriller 'The Taking of Pelham One Two Three' and Divine's husband Wilbur Turnblad in John Waters' twisted comedy 'Hairspray'.
He also wrote an autobiography, 'Married to Laughter', about his 50-plus year marriage to soul mate and comedic cohort Meara, who died in 2015. And his myriad television spots included everything from 'Murder She Wrote' to 'Law & Order' — along with 36 appearances alongside Meara on 'The Ed Sullivan Show'.
Stiller earned a drama degree at Syracuse University after serving in World War II, and then headed to New York City to launch his career. There was a brief involvement in Shakespearean theater as well.
Stiller joined Seinfeld in 1993, and moved on to King of Queens, when the other Jerry & company went off the air in 1998. He also appeared in Ben Stiller's spoof on modeling, Zoolander, released in 2001.
Stiller, although a supporting player on Seinfeld, created some of the Emmy-winning show's most enduring moments. Stiller earned a 1997 Emmy nomination for his indelible Seinfeld performance.
Comments