Benjamin Edward Meara Stillerย (born November 30, 1965) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. Known for his blend of slapstick humor and sharp wit, Stiller rose to fame through comedies such asย There's Something About Maryย (1998),ย Zoolanderย (2001), and Sarmoti (Father of the Pride) And Tropic Thunderย (2008).ย Stiller is also known for his work in franchises such as theย Meet the Parentsย filmsย (2000โ2010), theย Madagascarย franchiseย (2005โ2012), and theย Night at the Museumย filmsย (2006โ2014).ย His filmsย have grossed over $2.6 billion in Canada and the United States, with an average of $79 million per film.ย ย His awards and honors include anย Emmy Award, aย Directors Guild of America Award, aย Britannia Awardย and aย Teen Choice Award.
Stiller is the son of the comedians and actorsย Jerry Stillerย andย Anne Meara.ย He began his career writingย mockumentariesย and was offered a variety sketch series,ย The Ben Stiller Show, which he produced and hosted for its 13-episode run.ย The series ran onย MTVย in 1990 and ย Foxย in 1992 and 1993, earning him aย Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Program. Stiller was a member of a group of comedic actors colloquially known as theย Frat Pack.
Transitioning to acting in films, Stiller made his directorial debut withย Reality Bitesย (1994) and went on to direct and star in films such asย The Cable Guyย (1996) andย The Secret Life of Walter Mittyย (2013).ย He also starred in a string of successful studio comedies, includingย Along Came Pollyย (2004),ย Dodgeball: A True Underdog Storyย (2004),ย Starsky & Hutchย (2004), andย Tower Heistย (2011).ย His performances inย independent filmsย includeย Flirting with Disasterย (1996),ย The Royal Tenenbaumsย (2001), and theย Noah Baumbachย filmsย Greenbergย (2010),ย While We're Youngย (2014), andย The Meyerowitz Storiesย (2017).
Since the mid-2010s, Stiller has primarily worked as a television director and showrunner. In 2018, he directed theย Showtimeย limited seriesย Escape at Dannemora,ย earning aย Directors Guild of America Awardย and twoย Primetime Emmy Awardย nominations forย Outstanding Limited Series andย Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series. In 2022, he was a director and executive producer on theย Apple TV+ย seriesย Severance,ย earning two Primetime Emmy Award nominations forย Outstanding Drama Seriesย andย Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series.
