Why isn't he a bigger deal in Hollywood? Why isn't he more famous? Why isn't he still married?
The multi-talented celebrity has lived his entire life in public, yet in some ways remains an enigma.
The born and bred New Yorker and second child of late comedy legends Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara has been a bundle of creative energy since he was a nerdy kid getting picked on.
Well, if living well is the best revenge, then the actor-director who brought us Reality Bites starring Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke, and given some of the best character actor performances as in Zoolander with pal Owen Wilson, has definitely gotten his making a living in a business that’s in his blood. (His college-age daughter is hoping to become a third-generation actor.)
He's handsome, sophisticated, and successful--the whole package, if you will. But some things still boggle the mind.
15 He Got Divorced After 17 Years Of Marriage
In May of 2017, the Tropic Thunder star and his wife Christine Taylor, known for playing "Marcia Brady" in The Brady Bunch Movie, separated with stated intentions to divorce after an 18-year relationship and 17-year marriage, keeping it friendly for the sake of their children, Ella and Quinlin. The writer-producer also had a brush with cancer.
14 Even Though His Role Models Were Married 61 Years
Stiller and Meara met in 1953 and became a comedy team sensation after appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1963. Today they're known as the dad of "George Costanza" on Seinfeld and the mother-in-law of "Miranda" on SATC. The couple's 61-year marriage, which also produced daughter Amy, ended with Meara's death in 2015. Jerry Stiller passed away in May of 2020.
13 His Kids Have Seen Only One Of His Movies
Ella Olivia Stiller was born in 2002 and son Quinlin Dempsey Stiller born in 2005.
"They've seen one of my movies--Night At The Museum; totally their choice. You don't want to be the parent who's begging your kids to watch your movies. They'll come to when they come to it."
12 He Doesn’t Act Anymore
"I was ten years old when I first realized that I wanted to be a director. Acting wasn’t so important, but it suddenly took over."
After making The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, he decided to take his career in a different direction.
"For me, the whole creative experience is much more fulfilling as a director. What I really like is that it's easier, a different pressure."
11 He Was In A Band
"My high school class celebrated its 30th reunion and I saw a bunch of old friends again --the members of my old band called Capital Punishment. We even recorded an album, Roadkill. We weren’t particularly good, but since we all met up again, we’ve had a couple of jam sessions, and it’s been a lot of fun playing the drums again!"
10 He Was On Broadway
Like many actors anxious to get to work, The Permanent Midnight star left college (UCLA) for a role in the Tony Award-winning play, The House of Blue Leaves. But the screen was his calling. While on Broadway, he made a short film spoof of The Color of Money playing the Tom Cruise role, which led to a job on Saturday Night Live.
9 He Directed Some Great Movies
Movies often receive acclaim and the actors get famous, but audiences don't always pay attention to who was helming the film from behind the camera. If they did, they'd know the actor/writer/producer has almost 20 credits such as The Cable Guy, Zoolander 1 & 2, Tropic Thunder, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and Escape at Dannemora.
8 He Always Plays A Nice, Hapless Guy
"Being mean is just not my thing; if feels too cheap. I remember letting a magazine quote a few rash comments I made about red carpet photos. When I saw them in print, I felt almost ashamed. What’s it got to do with me what some pop star is wearing?" Since he is a nice guy, it's a comfort when he reminds us via his roles.
7 A Member Of The ‘Frat Pack’
The "Frat Pack" moniker refers to, Old School starring his pals Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell, and Owen Wilson, thanks to the numerous films featuring him, theses actors plus Luke Wilson, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Josh Rogan, Jason Long, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, and James Franco; and include the movies Zoolander, Envy, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.
6 The Name Of His Production Company
Keeping the Faith is a Star Trek fan and named his production company, which he founded in 2001, Red Hour Films after an alien riot featured in one of the episodes. In 2015, Red Hour began a partnership with Bold Films, a production and financing company that focuses on independent films and "providing an artistic haven for creative talent."
5 He Compares Himself To Others
Like most of us, the Meet the Parents star often compares and despairs.
"In the film business, particularly, it’s almost impossible to shut out these kinds of thoughts: 'Why didn’t I get that part? Why hasn’t my movie attracted such big audiences?' It’s human nature to think these things, isn’t it? The question is how you cope with doubts and how badly you let them affect you."
4 He Always Wanted To Be A Director
It all began with a gift he got at age 10; a Super 8 camera with which be started shooting films with basically the same plots: someone would pick on the shy, awkward kid who would then get his revenge.
How many people can say they've made their childhood fantasies have come true?
3 He Was Surprised By His Dad’s Admiration
"Nothing was as important in my development as my family’s support," yet he was surprised by this quote by his late father: "Ben was ahead of me, in a lot of ways. Everything I could never do, Ben could do.”
The Duplex star responded: “I was funny like my dad [but] never really felt a competition, because I would lose, hands down.”
2 He Isn’t More Well Known For His Philanthropy
Since 2016, the Greenberg actor has been involved with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, when he met refugees in Germany and Jordan. In 2018, the Little Fockers star was named Goodwill Ambassador. He has visited Guatemala, where he was able to meet with refugees from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. This is one of many charities the star supports.
1 He Hasn’t Won More Major Awards
In 1992, Fox gave him his own eponymous show. Unfortunately, The Ben Stiller Show was a disappointment ratings-wise but he got some satisfaction winning an Emmy post-cancellation.
In 2019, at the 71st annual DGA Awards, his work on Escape at Dannemora won for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series.
Sources: IMDB, Looper, Country Living, Lufthansa Magazine, Page Six