Ben Stiller
Born: 1965-11-30 in New York City, New York, USA
Known For: Acting
Biography
Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller (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 as There's Something About Mary (1998), Zoolander (2001), and Tropic Thunder (2008). Stiller is also known for his work in franchises such as the Meet the Parents films (2000–2010), the Madagascar franchise (2005–2012), and the Night at the Museum films (2006–2014). His films have grossed over $2.6 billion in Canada and the United States, with an average of $79 million per film. His awards and honors include an Emmy Award, a Directors Guild of America Award, a Britannia Award and a Teen Choice Award. Stiller is the son of the comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. He began his career writing mockumentaries and was offered a variety sketch series, The Ben Stiller Show, which he produced and hosted for its 13-episode run. The series ran on MTV in 1990 and Fox in 1992 and 1993, earning him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Program. Stiller was a member of a group of comedic actors colloquially known as the Frat Pack. Transitioning to acting in films, Stiller made his directorial debut with Reality Bites (1994) and went on to direct and star in films such as The Cable Guy (1996) and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013). He also starred in a string of successful studio comedies, including Along Came Polly (2004), Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004), Starsky & Hutch (2004), and Tower Heist (2011). His performances in independent films include Flirting with Disaster (1996), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), and the Noah Baumbach films Greenberg (2010), While We're Young (2014), and The Meyerowitz Stories (2017). Since the mid-2010s, Stiller has primarily worked as a television director and showrunner. In 2018, he directed the Showtime limited series Escape at Dannemora, earning a Directors Guild of America Award and two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Limited Series and Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series. In 2022, he was a director and executive producer on the Apple TV+ series Severance, earning two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series.
Filmography
2026
- The Dink as Dr. Stone
- Focker-in-Law as Greg Focker
- Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! as Self - Actor & Filmmaker
- Born to Bowl ... (Executive Producer)
2025
- Happy Gilmore 2 as Hal L
- Everybody's Live with John Mulaney as Self - Actor and Director
- Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost as Self
- Bianca by Night as Self - Guest (video link)
- The Hanging of Stuart Cornfeld
- Downey Wrote That as Self
- Extremist ... (Executive Producer)
2024
- Dear Santa as Lucifer (uncredited)
- Nutcrackers as Mike Maxwell
2023
- Krapopolis as Prometheus (voice)
- High Desert ... (Executive Producer)
- The Playboy Murders as Self (archive footage)
- Albert Brooks: Defending My Life as Self
- Bleecker as Dr. Pots
2021
- Queenpins ... (Producer)
- Locked Down as Guy
2020
- Beastie Boys Story as Self
- Hubie Halloween as Orderly Hal
- The Flame ... (Associate Producer)
- Dinner in America ... (Producer)
- Friendsgiving ... (Producer)
- Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics as Self
- Gone Mental with Lior as Self
- Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine as 8008s
- Celebrity Escape Room as Self
2019
- Desus & Mero as Self - Illustrious Guest
- In the Dark ... (Executive Producer)
- Greed as Self
- Plus One ... (Executive Producer)
2018
- Escape at Dannemora ... (Director)
- The Package ... (Producer)
- Alex Strangelove ... (Producer)
2017
- Brad's Status as Brad Sloan
- The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) as Matthew Meyerowitz
- Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs as Self
- The Truth Is in the Stars as Self
- Everybody Has an Andy Dick Story as Self
2016
- Quotidien as Self - Guest
- Why Him? ... (Producer)
- Zoolander 2 as Derek Zoolander
- Haters Back Off as Himself
- Don't Think Twice as Self
- Zoolander: Super Model as Derek Zoolander (voice)
- Drake Sather: The Man Who Created Zoolander
2015
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
- Hot Ones as Self
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter as Self
- StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson as Self
- Another Period as Charles Ponzi
- While We're Young as Josh Schrebnick
- Big Time in Hollywood, Fl as Jimmy Staats
- Being Canadian as Self
- Bridget Everett: Gynecological Wonder as Self
- Crash Test: With Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer ... (Producer)
- Sweet Micky for President as Self
2014
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
- Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb as Larry Daley / Laaa
- Running Wild with Bear Grylls as Self
- Chicken Shop Date as Self - Guest
- Harmontown as Self
2013
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty as Walter Mitty
- Circus Halligalli as Self
- Madly Madagascar as Alex (voice)
- The Birthday Boys
- Le Débarquement
- He's Way More Famous Than You as Ben Stiller
- Here Comes the Night Time as Fake Arcade Fire Bandmember
- Le Débarquement as Self - host
- Nantucket Film Festival's 2nd Comedy Roundtable as Self
2012
- Ted's Notebook as Self
- Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted as Alex (voice)
- Burning Love ... (Executive Producer)
- The Watch as Evan
- Inside Comedy as Self
- Vamps ... (Executive Producer)
- 12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief as Self
- Dreamworks: Holiday Classics as Alex (voice)
- The Secret Policeman's Ball as Self
- Nantucket Film Festival's Comedy Roundtable as Self - Panelist
2011
- Workaholics as Del Jacobson
- The Jonathan Ross Show as Self - Guest
- Tower Heist as Josh Kovacs
- Eagleheart as Silly Sammy
- 30 Minutes or Less ... (Producer)
- The Big Year ... (Executive Producer)
- Submarine as Soap Opera Star (uncredited)
- The Trip as Ben Stiller (uncredited)
2010
- Megamind as Bernard (voice)
- Little Fockers as Greg Focker
- Take Two with Phineas and Ferb as Self
- The Trip as Ben Stiller
- I'm Still Here as Ben Stiller
- Greenberg as Roger Greenberg
2009
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian as Larry Daley
- Funny People as Friend in video (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Merry Madagascar as Alex (voice)
- The Marc Pease Experience as Jon Gribble
- The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story as Self
- Monkey Mischief as Larry Daley
2008
- Tropic Thunder as Tugg Speedman
- Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa as Alex (voice)
- Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis as Self
- The Ruins ... (Executive Producer)
- Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness as Tugg Speedman
- Nick Nolte: No Exit as Self
2007
- Phineas and Ferb as Khaka Peü Peü (voice)
- The Graham Norton Show as Self
- Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! as Self
- The Heartbreak Kid as Eddie Cantrow
- Blades of Glory ... (Producer)
- Elmo's Christmas Countdown as Stiller the Elf (voice)
- The Farrelly Bros.: In the French Tradition as Self
- The Making of 'The Pick of Destiny' as Self
- AFI: 100 Years... 100 Movies... 10th Anniversary Edition as Self
2006
- The One Show as Self
- Night at the Museum as Larry Daley
- Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny as Guitar Center Guy
- The Henry Rollins Show
- School for Scoundrels as Lonnie Ratcliff
- Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner as Self - Filmed Roaster
- Danny Roane: First Time Director as Self
- Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That! as Self
2005
- Madagascar as Alex (voice)
- Extras as Ben Stiller
- Confessions of an Action Star as Commander
- Earth to America as Self
- Romanekian as Self
- All Aboard the Crazy Train as Self - Special Appearance
2004
- Meet the Fockers as Greg Focker
- On Air with Ryan Seacrest as Self
- Along Came Polly as Reuben Feffer
- DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story as White Goodman
- Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy as Arturo Mendes
- Starsky & Hutch as David Starsky
- Envy as Tim Dingman
- Nobody Knows Anything! as Peach Expert (uncredited)
- Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song? as Self (archive footage)
2003
- Arrested Development as Tony Wonder
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
- Comedy Central Roasts as Self
- Duplex as Alex Rose
- Pauly Shore Is Dead as Ben Stiller (uncredited)
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special as Self
- Crooked Lines ... (Presenter)
2002
- American Idol as Self
- Orange County as Firefighter (uncredited)
- Wish Kids
- Run Ronnie Run as Self
- Prehistoric Planet as Narrator (voice)
2001
- The Royal Tenenbaums as Chas Tenenbaum
- Zoolander as Derek Zoolander
- Undeclared as Rex
- Primetime Glick
- The Andy Dick Show as Self
- Playboy Mansion Parties Uncensored as Self
- America | A Tribute to Heroes as Self
- Mission: Improbable as Tom Crooze
2000
- Curb Your Enthusiasm as Ben Stiller
- Meet the Parents as Greg Focker
- Keeping the Faith as Rabbi Jake Schram
- The Independent as Cop
1999
- Family Guy as Ben Stiller (voice) (uncredited)
- Freaks and Geeks as Agent Meara
- Rove as Self
- Mystery Men as Mr. Furious / Roy
- Black and White as Mark Clear
- The Early Show as Self
- The Suburbans as Jay Rose
- Heat Vision and Jack as Self / Strip Club DJ (uncredited)
- TV total as Self
- The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller as Self
- Teen Choice Awards as Self
1998
- The King of Queens as Jerry - Arthur Spooner’s Father
- There's Something About Mary as Ted Stroehmann
- Permanent Midnight as Jerry Stahl
- Your Friends & Neighbors as Jerry
- Zero Effect as Steve Arlo
1997
- King of the Hill as Rich (voice)
- The View as Self
- Derek Zoolander University as Derek Zoolander
1996
- The Daily Show as Self
- Happy Gilmore as Hal L. (uncredited)
- The Cable Guy as Sam Sweet
- Flirting with Disaster as Mel Coplin
- Saturday Night Special
- If Lucy Fell as Bwick Elias
- E! True Hollywood Story
- Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond as Self
- Derek Zoolander: Male Model as Derek Zoolander
1995
- NewsRadio as Vic
- Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist as Ben (voice)
- Mr. Show with Bob and David as Jerry
- Heavyweights as Tony Perkis / Tony Perkis Sr.
1994
- Friends as Tommy
- Duckman as Harry Medfly (voice)
- Space Ghost Coast to Coast
- Reality Bites as Michael Grates
- Inside the Actors Studio as Self
1993
- Raw as Himself
- Frasier as Barry (voice)
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
1992
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
- MTV Movie & TV Awards
- The Larry Sanders Show as Ben Stiller
- The Ben Stiller Show as Various Characters
- The Nutt House as Pie Thrower (uncredited)
1991
- Highway to Hell as Pluto's Cook / Attila the Hun
1990
- Stella as Jim Uptegrove
- Working Tra$h as Freddy Novak
1989
- The Simpsons as Garth Motherloving (voice)
- Next of Kin as Lawrence Isabella
- That's Adequate as Chip Lane
- Elvis Stories as Bruce
1988
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self
- Fresh Horses as Tipton
1987
- Kids' Choice Awards as Host
- Empire of the Sun as Dainty
- Hot Pursuit as Chris Honeywell
- The House of Blue Leaves as Ronnie Shaughnessy
- The Hustler of Money as Wince
- Shoeshine as Son
1984
- Miami Vice as Fast Eddie Felcher
- MTV Video Music Awards as Self - Host
- Kate & Allie
1982
- American Playhouse as Ronnie Shaughnessy
- Late Night with David Letterman as Self
1981
- Entertainment Tonight as Self
1975
- Saturday Night Live as Self - Various Characters
- Kate McShane as Nickie
1961
- The Mike Douglas Show as Self
1953
- The Oscars as Self
1952
- Today as Self
1949
- The Emmy Awards as Self