Ben Stiller
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
Focker-in-Law
as Greg Focker
Focker-in-Law
as Greg Focker
The Dink
as Dr. Stone
The Dink
as Dr. Stone
The Hanging of Stuart Cornfeld
The Hanging of Stuart Cornfeld
Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost
as Self
Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost
as Self
Downey Wrote That
as Self
Downey Wrote That
as Self
Happy Gilmore 2
as Hal L
Happy Gilmore 2
as Hal L
Dear Santa
as Lucifer (uncredited)
Dear Santa
as Lucifer (uncredited)
Nutcrackers
as Mike Maxwell
Nutcrackers
as Mike Maxwell
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life
as Self
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life
as Self
Bleecker
as Dr. Pots
Bleecker
as Dr. Pots
Bros
as Ben Stiller (uncredited)
Bros
as Ben Stiller (uncredited)
Hubie Halloween
as Orderly Hal
Hubie Halloween
as Orderly Hal
Celebrity Escape Room
as Self
Celebrity Escape Room
as Self
Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics
as Self
Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics
as Self
Greed
as Self
Greed
as Self
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
as Self
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
as Self
Brad's Status
as Brad Sloan
Brad's Status
as Brad Sloan
Everybody Has an Andy Dick Story
as Self
Everybody Has an Andy Dick Story
as Self
The Truth Is in the Stars
as Self
The Truth Is in the Stars
as Self
Zoolander: Super Model
as Derek Zoolander (voice)
Zoolander: Super Model
as Derek Zoolander (voice)
Don't Think Twice
as Self
Don't Think Twice
as Self
Zoolander 2
as Derek Zoolander
Zoolander 2
as Derek Zoolander
Being Canadian
as Self
Being Canadian
as Self
Bridget Everett: Gynecological Wonder
as Self
Bridget Everett: Gynecological Wonder
as Self
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
as Larry Daley / Laaa
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
as Larry Daley / Laaa
Harmontown
as Self
Harmontown
as Self
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
as Walter Mitty
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
as Walter Mitty
Nantucket Film Festival's 2nd Comedy Roundtable
as Self
Nantucket Film Festival's 2nd Comedy Roundtable
as Self
Here Comes the Night Time
as Fake Arcade Fire Bandmember
Here Comes the Night Time
as Fake Arcade Fire Bandmember
He's Way More Famous Than You
as Ben Stiller
He's Way More Famous Than You
as Ben Stiller
Madly Madagascar
as Alex (voice)
Madly Madagascar
as Alex (voice)
Le Débarquement
as Self - host
Le Débarquement
as Self - host
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
as Self
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
as Self
Dreamworks: Holiday Classics
as Alex (voice)
Dreamworks: Holiday Classics
as Alex (voice)
Nantucket Film Festival's Comedy Roundtable
as Self - Panelist
Nantucket Film Festival's Comedy Roundtable
as Self - Panelist
The Watch
as Evan
The Watch
as Evan
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
as Alex (voice)
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
as Alex (voice)
The Secret Policeman's Ball
as Self
The Secret Policeman's Ball
as Self
Tower Heist
as Josh Kovacs
Tower Heist
as Josh Kovacs
The Trip
as Ben Stiller (uncredited)
The Trip
as Ben Stiller (uncredited)
Little Fockers
as Greg Focker
Little Fockers
as Greg Focker
Megamind
as Bernard (voice)
Megamind
as Bernard (voice)
I'm Still Here
as Ben Stiller
I'm Still Here
as Ben Stiller
Greenberg
as Roger Greenberg
Greenberg
as Roger Greenberg
Monkey Mischief
as Larry Daley
Monkey Mischief
as Larry Daley
Merry Madagascar
as Alex (voice)
Merry Madagascar
as Alex (voice)
The Marc Pease Experience
as Jon Gribble
The Marc Pease Experience
as Jon Gribble
Funny People
as Friend in video (archive footage) (uncredited)
Funny People
as Friend in video (archive footage) (uncredited)
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
as Larry Daley
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
as Larry Daley
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story
as Self
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story
as Self
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
as Alex (voice)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
as Alex (voice)
Tropic Thunder
as Tugg Speedman
Tropic Thunder
as Tugg Speedman
Nick Nolte: No Exit
as Self
Nick Nolte: No Exit
as Self
Elmo's Christmas Countdown
as Stiller the Elf (voice)
Elmo's Christmas Countdown
as Stiller the Elf (voice)
The Heartbreak Kid
as Eddie Cantrow
The Heartbreak Kid
as Eddie Cantrow
AFI: 100 Years... 100 Movies... 10th Anniversary Edition
as Self
AFI: 100 Years... 100 Movies... 10th Anniversary Edition
as Self
The Making of 'The Pick of Destiny'
as Self
The Making of 'The Pick of Destiny'
as Self
Night at the Museum
as Larry Daley
Night at the Museum
as Larry Daley
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
as Guitar Center Guy
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
as Guitar Center Guy
School for Scoundrels
as Lonnie Ratcliff
School for Scoundrels
as Lonnie Ratcliff
Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner
as Self - Filmed Roaster
Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner
as Self - Filmed Roaster
Danny Roane: First Time Director
as Self
Danny Roane: First Time Director
as Self
Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!
as Self
Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!
as Self
Earth to America
as Self
Earth to America
as Self
All Aboard the Crazy Train
as Self - Special Appearance
All Aboard the Crazy Train
as Self - Special Appearance
Madagascar
as Alex (voice)
Madagascar
as Alex (voice)
Confessions of an Action Star
as Commander
Confessions of an Action Star
as Commander
Nobody Knows Anything!
as Peach Expert (uncredited)
Nobody Knows Anything!
as Peach Expert (uncredited)
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
as Arturo Mendes
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
as Arturo Mendes
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
as White Goodman
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
as White Goodman
Envy
as Tim Dingman
Envy
as Tim Dingman
Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?
as Self (archive footage)
Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?
as Self (archive footage)
Starsky & Hutch
as David Starsky
Starsky & Hutch
as David Starsky
Along Came Polly
as Reuben Feffer
Along Came Polly
as Reuben Feffer
Duplex
as Alex Rose
Duplex
as Alex Rose
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
as Self
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
as Self
Pauly Shore Is Dead
as Ben Stiller (uncredited)
Pauly Shore Is Dead
as Ben Stiller (uncredited)
Run Ronnie Run
as Self
Run Ronnie Run
as Self
The Royal Tenenbaums
as Chas Tenenbaum
The Royal Tenenbaums
as Chas Tenenbaum
Zoolander
as Derek Zoolander
Zoolander
as Derek Zoolander
America | A Tribute to Heroes
as Self
America | A Tribute to Heroes
as Self
Playboy Mansion Parties Uncensored
as Self
Playboy Mansion Parties Uncensored
as Self
Meet the Parents
as Greg Focker
Meet the Parents
as Greg Focker
Keeping the Faith
as Rabbi Jake Schram
Keeping the Faith
as Rabbi Jake Schram
The Suburbans
as Jay Rose
The Suburbans
as Jay Rose
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller
as Self
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller
as Self
Black and White
as Mark Clear
Black and White
as Mark Clear
Mystery Men
as Mr. Furious / Roy
Mystery Men
as Mr. Furious / Roy
Heat Vision and Jack
as Self / Strip Club DJ (uncredited)
Heat Vision and Jack
as Self / Strip Club DJ (uncredited)
Permanent Midnight
as Jerry Stahl
Permanent Midnight
as Jerry Stahl
Your Friends & Neighbors
as Jerry
Your Friends & Neighbors
as Jerry
There's Something About Mary
as Ted Stroehmann
There's Something About Mary
as Ted Stroehmann
Zero Effect
as Steve Arlo
Zero Effect
as Steve Arlo
Derek Zoolander University
as Derek Zoolander
Derek Zoolander University
as Derek Zoolander
Derek Zoolander: Male Model
as Derek Zoolander
Derek Zoolander: Male Model
as Derek Zoolander
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
as Self
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
as Self
The Cable Guy
as Sam Sweet
The Cable Guy
as Sam Sweet
Flirting with Disaster
as Mel Coplin
Flirting with Disaster
as Mel Coplin
If Lucy Fell
as Bwick Elias
If Lucy Fell
as Bwick Elias
Happy Gilmore
as Hal L. (uncredited)
Happy Gilmore
as Hal L. (uncredited)
Heavyweights
as Tony Perkis / Tony Perkis Sr.
Heavyweights
as Tony Perkis / Tony Perkis Sr.
The Nutt House
as Pie Thrower (uncredited)
The Nutt House
as Pie Thrower (uncredited)
Highway to Hell
as Pluto's Cook / Attila the Hun
Highway to Hell
as Pluto's Cook / Attila the Hun
Working Tra$h
as Freddy Novak
Working Tra$h
as Freddy Novak
Stella
as Jim Uptegrove
Stella
as Jim Uptegrove
Next of Kin
as Lawrence Isabella
Next of Kin
as Lawrence Isabella
That's Adequate
as Chip Lane
That's Adequate
as Chip Lane
Elvis Stories
as Bruce
Elvis Stories
as Bruce
Empire of the Sun
as Dainty
Empire of the Sun
as Dainty
The House of Blue Leaves
as Ronnie Shaughnessy
The House of Blue Leaves
as Ronnie Shaughnessy
Hot Pursuit
as Chris Honeywell
Hot Pursuit
as Chris Honeywell
The Hustler of Money
as Wince
The Hustler of Money
as Wince
Shoeshine
as Son
Shoeshine
as Son
The Semplica Girl Diaries
The Semplica Girl Diaries
A Matter of Time
A Matter of Time