Colin Nutt

Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller, born November 30, 1965, is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker recognized for his distinctive blend of slapstick humor and sharp wit. He gained prominence through successful comedies such as "There's Something About Mary," "Zoolander," and "Tropic Thunder," as well as popular film franchises including "Meet the Parents," "Madagascar," and "Night at the Museum." Stiller's cinematic endeavors have achieved significant box office success, grossing over $2.6 billion in North America. His career accolades include an Emmy Award, a Directors Guild of America Award, a Britannia Award, and a Teen Choice Award.

Stiller, the son of performers Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, began his career in television, hosting "The Ben Stiller Show," which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for writing. He transitioned to film, making his directorial debut with "Reality Bites" and subsequently directing and starring in projects like "The Cable Guy" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." He has also appeared in numerous successful studio comedies and independent films. In recent years, Stiller has focused on television directing and showrunning, notably with the acclaimed series "Escape at Dannemora" and "Severance."

Born in New York City on November 30, 1965, Benjamin Stiller was raised on Manhattan's Upper West Side. His parents, comedians Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, instilled in him a unique upbringing, often taking him to their professional engagements. This show-business environment, characterized by travel and late nights, differed from a traditional childhood. Stiller displayed an early inclination towards filmmaking, creating Super 8 movies with friends and his sister. His initial foray into acting occurred at age nine on his mother's television series, "Kate McShane." Later, inspired by "Second City Television," he developed an interest in sketch comedy. During high school, he was also the drummer for the post-punk band Capital Punishment, which released an album in 1982 and reunited in 2018.

Stiller's professional journey began with minor television roles and a part in the Broadway revival of "The House of Blue Leaves." He gained attention for producing a satirical mockumentary and a short film parodying "The Color of Money," which led to an opportunity as a writer for "Saturday Night Live" in 1989. After a brief stint on SNL, he created short films for MTV, including "Going Back to Brooklyn." This work impressed MTV producers, resulting in his own sketch comedy series, "The Ben Stiller Show," in 1990. Although initially canceled, the show was later revived on the Fox Network in 1992. Featuring an ensemble cast and co-written by Judd Apatow, the series received critical acclaim and eventually won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing.

In the early 1990s, Stiller began appearing in films and made his directorial debut with "Reality Bites" in 1994, a project he also co-starred in and helped rewrite. The film, produced by Danny DeVito, garnered mixed reviews but achieved moderate box office success. Stiller later reunited with his parents for the film "Heavyweights" and had a notable uncredited role in Adam Sandler's "Happy Gilmore." He then directed and starred in "The Cable Guy," a film notable for its significant actor salary and for connecting Stiller with future collaborators Jack Black and Owen Wilson. In 1996, Stiller also developed the character of Derek Zoolander through short films for MTV's VH1 Fashion Awards, which later formed the basis for the feature film "Zoolander."

Stiller achieved widespread recognition with the 1998 hit comedy "There's Something About Mary." He continued to star in successful studio comedies like "Meet the Parents" (2000), "Zoolander" (2001), "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" (2004), and "Tropic Thunder" (2008), alongside roles in independent films such as "The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001). Since the mid-2010s, Stiller has increasingly focused on directing and showrunning television series. His work includes the Showtime limited series "Escape at Dannemora" (2018), for which he received award nominations, and the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series "Severance" (2022), earning him multiple Emmy nominations for directing and producing.