It was a sad day in the world of comedy in the USA on Monday as it was reported that former Seinfeld star Jerry Stiller had passed away at the age of 91. The news was confirmed by his son Ben Stiller on Twitter. Ben revealed on the social media platform that Jerry had passed away from ‘natural causes’.
Former Seinfeld Actor Jerry Stiller Dies Aged 91
Jerry was born in New York on June 8th 1927. He was a mainstay on the comedy scene after forming a dynamic team with his wife Anne Meara. She sadly passed away in 2015. The two of them worked on numerous projects throughout their lives including The King of Queens, Archie Bunker’s Place and The Ed Sullivan Show.
Stiller Appeared Alongside Family Throughout Career
As well as starring as Arthur Spooner in The Kings of Queens, Jerry also starred alongside his son Ben on numerous occasions throughout his career. Some of the films that he appeared alongside Ben in included The Heartbreak Kid, Zoolander and Zoolander 2. Jerry also appeared in both productions of Hairspray, as he appeared in the 1988 film and the remake that was released in 2007 also starring Zac Efron.
However, he will most commonly be remembered for his time in Seinfeld. He played the role of Jason Alexander’s son for six years and his performances also saw him make the shortlist for a Primetime Emmy in 1997. His character of Frank Costanza was much loved. He wasn’t even slated to play the role, as he replaced John Randolph after his predecessor made just one appearance in Seinfeld.
Stiller & Meara’s Joint Work
Jerry met his wife in 1953 as they were both in attendance for a casting call in New York. The two would be married a year later. They continuously worked together throughout their careers and made 30 appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show. Meanwhile, their service to entertainment was rewarded with a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood in 2007.
They continued to work together up until Meara’s death as they hosted a web-based show from their home. Jerry’s final film role came in Zoolander 2 as he played Maury Ballstein alongside his son Ben.
For any other soap opera and entertainment news, please visit Daily Soap Dish. For more royal and celeb baby news, come back to Celeb Baby Laundry.
