Benjamin Edward Meara StillerΒ (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 asΒ There's Something About MaryΒ (1998),Β ZoolanderΒ (2001), andΒ Tropic ThunderΒ (2008).Β Stiller is also known for his work in franchises such as theΒ Meet the ParentsΒ filmsΒ (2000β2010), theΒ MadagascarΒ franchiseΒ (2005β2012), and theΒ Night at the MuseumΒ filmsΒ (2006β2014).Β His filmsΒ have grossed over $2.6 billion in Canada and the United States, with an average of $79 million per film.Β Β His awards and honors include anΒ Emmy Award, aΒ Directors Guild of America Award, aΒ Britannia AwardΒ and aΒ Teen Choice Award.
Stiller is the son of the comedians and actorsΒ Jerry StillerΒ andΒ Anne Meara.Β He began his career writingΒ mockumentariesΒ and was offered a variety sketch series,Β The Ben Stiller Show, which he produced and hosted for its 13-episode run.Β The series ran onΒ MTVΒ in 1990 and Β FoxΒ in 1992 and 1993, earning him aΒ Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Program. Stiller was a member of a group of comedic actors colloquially known as theΒ Frat Pack.
Transitioning to acting in films, Stiller made his directorial debut withΒ Reality BitesΒ (1994) and went on to direct and star in films such asΒ The Cable GuyΒ (1996) andΒ The Secret Life of Walter MittyΒ (2013).Β He also starred in a string of successful studio comedies, includingΒ Along Came PollyΒ (2004),Β Dodgeball: A True Underdog StoryΒ (2004),Β Starsky & HutchΒ (2004), andΒ Tower HeistΒ (2011).Β His performances inΒ independent filmsΒ includeΒ Flirting with DisasterΒ (1996),Β The Royal TenenbaumsΒ (2001), and theΒ Noah BaumbachΒ filmsΒ GreenbergΒ (2010),Β While We're YoungΒ (2014), andΒ The Meyerowitz StoriesΒ (2017).
Since the mid-2010s, Stiller has primarily worked as a television director and showrunner. In 2018, he directed theΒ ShowtimeΒ limited seriesΒ Escape at Dannemora,Β earning aΒ Directors Guild of America AwardΒ and twoΒ Primetime Emmy AwardΒ nominations forΒ Outstanding Limited Series andΒ Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series. In 2022, he was a director and executive producer on theΒ Apple TV+Β seriesΒ Severance,Β earning two Primetime Emmy Award nominations forΒ Outstanding Drama SeriesΒ andΒ Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series.
