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.
Known For
Credits
- 2026 · Focker-In-Law as Greg Focker
- 2026 · Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! as Self
- 2025 · Downey Wrote That as Self
- 2025 · Bianca by Night as Self - Guest (video link)
- 2024 · Nutcrackers as Mike Maxwell
- 2023 · Bleecker as Dr. Pots
- 2023 · The Playboy Murders as Self (archive footage)
- 2022 · Bros as Ben Stiller (uncredited)
- 2021 · Locked Down as Guy
- 2020 · Hubie Halloween as Orderly Hal
- 2020 · Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics as Self
- 2020 · Beastie Boys Story as Self
- 2019 · Greed as Self
- 2017 · The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) as Matthew Meyerowitz
- 2017 · Brad's Status as Brad Sloan
- 2016 · Zoolander: Super Model as Derek Zoolander (voice)
- 2016 · Don't Think Twice as Self
- 2015 · Bridget Everett: Gynecological Wonder as Self
- 2015 · While We're Young as Josh Schrebnick
- 2014 · Harmontown as Self
- 2013 · The Birthday Boys as
- 2013 · Le Débarquement as
- 2011 · Eagleheart as Silly Sammy
- 2010 · The Trip as Ben Stiller
- 2010 · I'm Still Here as Ben Stiller
- 2009 · Merry Madagascar as Alex (voice)
- 2009 · Funny People as Friend in video (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2007 · The Heartbreak Kid as Eddie Cantrow
- 2006 · Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny as Guitar Center Guy
- 2006 · School for Scoundrels as Lonnie Ratcliff
- 2006 · Danny Roane: First Time Director as Self
- 2006 · Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That! as Self
- 2004 · Nobody Knows Anything! as Peach Expert (uncredited)
- 2003 · Duplex as Alex Rose
- 2003 · Pauly Shore Is Dead as Ben Stiller (uncredited)
- 2002 · Prehistoric Planet as Narrator (voice)
- 2001 · The Andy Dick Show as Self
- 2000 · Keeping the Faith as Rabbi Jake Schram
- 1999 · The Early Show as Self
- 1999 · Black and White as Mark Clear
- 1999 · Mystery Men as Mr. Furious / Roy
- 1999 · Heat Vision and Jack as Self / Strip Club DJ (uncredited)
- 1998 · Permanent Midnight as Jerry Stahl
- 1998 · Your Friends & Neighbors as Jerry
- 1996 · E! True Hollywood Story as
- 1996 · The Cable Guy as Sam Sweet
- 1996 · Saturday Night Special as
- 1996 · Flirting with Disaster as Mel Coplin
- 1995 · Heavyweights as Tony Perkis / Tony Perkis Sr.
- 1994 · Reality Bites as Michael Grates
- 1990 · Stella as Jim Uptegrove
- 1989 · Next of Kin as Lawrence Isabella
- 1989 · That's Adequate as Chip Lane
- 1987 · Hot Pursuit as Chris Honeywell
- 1987 · Shoeshine as Son
- 1975 · Kate McShane as Nickie
- 1952 · Today as Self
- 1949 · The Emmy Awards as Self
- Future · The Semplica Girl Diaries as
- 2025 · The Hanging of Stuart Cornfeld as
- 2025 · Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost as Self
- 2025 · Happy Gilmore 2 as Hal L
- 2025 · Everybody's Live with John Mulaney as Self - Actor and Director
- 2024 · Dear Santa as Lucifer (uncredited)
- 2023 · Albert Brooks: Defending My Life as Self
- 2023 · Krapopolis as Prometheus (voice)
- 2022 · Severance as Kier Eagan (voice) (uncredited)
- 2020 · Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine as 8008s
- 2020 · Celebrity Escape Room as Self
- 2020 · Gone Mental with Lior as Self
- 2019 · Desus & Mero as Self - Illustrious Guest
- 2017 · Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs as Self
- 2017 · Everybody Has an Andy Dick Story as
- 2017 · The Truth Is in the Stars as Self
- 2016 · Haters Back Off as Himself
- 2016 · Quotidien as Self - Guest
- 2016 · Drake Sather: The Man Who Created Zoolander as
- 2016 · Zoolander 2 as Derek Zoolander
- 2015 · Being Canadian as Self
- 2015 · The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as
- 2015 · The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
- 2015 · Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter as Self
- 2015 · Another Period as Charles Ponzi
- 2015 · StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson as Self
- 2015 · Big Time in Hollywood, Fl as Jimmy Staats
- 2015 · Hot Ones as Self
- 2015 · Sweet Micky for President as Self
- 2014 · Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb as Larry Daley / Laaa
- 2014 · Chicken Shop Date as Self - Guest
- 2014 · Running Wild with Bear Grylls as Self
- 2014 · Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
- 2014 · Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self - Guest
- 2014 · The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- 2014 · The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self - Guest
- 2013 · The Secret Life of Walter Mitty as Walter Mitty
- 2013 · Nantucket Film Festival's 2nd Comedy Roundtable as Self
- 2013 · Here Comes the Night Time as Fake Arcade Fire Bandmember
- 2013 · He's Way More Famous Than You as Ben Stiller
- 2013 · Madly Madagascar as Alex (voice)
- 2013 · Le Débarquement as Self - host
- 2012 · 12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief as Self
- 2012 · Nantucket Film Festival's Comedy Roundtable as Self - Panelist
- 2012 · The Watch as Evan
- 2012 · Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted as Alex (voice)
- 2012 · The Secret Policeman's Ball as Self
- 2012 · Ted's Notebook as Self
- 2012 · Inside Comedy as Self
- 2011 · Tower Heist as Josh Kovacs
- 2011 · Clinton Foundation: Celebrity Division as Self
- 2011 · The Jonathan Ross Show as Self - Guest
- 2011 · The Trip as Ben Stiller (uncredited)
- 2011 · Workaholics as Del Jacobson
- 2011 · Submarine as Soap Opera Star (uncredited)
- 2010 · Little Fockers as Greg Focker
- 2010 · Megamind as Bernard (voice)
- 2010 · Greenberg as Roger Greenberg
- 2009 · Monkey Mischief as Larry Daley
- 2009 · The Marc Pease Experience as Jon Gribble
- 2009 · Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- 2009 · Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian as Larry Daley
- 2009 · The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story as Self
- 2008 · Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa as Alex (voice)
- 2008 · Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness as Tugg Speedman
- 2008 · Tropic Thunder as Tugg Speedman
- 2008 · Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis as Self
- 2007 · The Farrelly Bros.: In the French Tradition as Self
- 2007 · Elmo's Christmas Countdown as Stiller the Elf (voice)
- 2007 · Phineas and Ferb as Khaka Peü Peü (voice)
- 2007 · AFI: 100 Years... 100 Movies... 10th Anniversary Edition as Self
- 2007 · The Making of 'The Pick of Destiny' as Self
- 2007 · The Graham Norton Show as Self
- 2007 · Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! as Self
- 2006 · Night at the Museum as Larry Daley
- 2006 · Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner as Self - Filmed Roaster
- 2006 · The One Show as Self
- 2006 · The Henry Rollins Show as
- 2005 · Earth to America as Self
- 2005 · Romanekian as Self
- 2005 · Extras as Ben Stiller
- 2005 · All Aboard the Crazy Train as Self - Special Appearance
- 2005 · Madagascar as Alex (voice)
- 2005 · Confessions of an Action Star as Commander
- 2004 · Meet the Fockers as Greg Focker
- 2004 · Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy as Arturo Mendes
- 2004 · DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story as White Goodman
- 2004 · Envy as Tim Dingman
- 2004 · Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song? as Self (archive footage)
- 2004 · Starsky & Hutch as David Starsky
- 2004 · Along Came Polly as Reuben Feffer
- 2004 · On Air with Ryan Seacrest as Self
- 2003 · Arrested Development as Tony Wonder
- 2003 · Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special as Self
- 2003 · The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
- 2003 · Comedy Central Roasts as Self
- 2003 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- 2003 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self - Guest
- 2002 · American Idol as Self
- 2002 · Wish Kids as
- 2002 · Run Ronnie Run as Self
- 2002 · Orange County as Firefighter (uncredited)
- 2001 · The Royal Tenenbaums as Chas Tenenbaum
- 2001 · Zoolander as Derek Zoolander
- 2001 · Undeclared as Rex
- 2001 · America | A Tribute to Heroes as Self
- 2001 · Primetime Glick as
- 2001 · Mission: Improbable as Tom Crooze
- 2001 · Playboy Mansion Parties Uncensored as Self
- 2000 · The Independent as Cop
- 2000 · Curb Your Enthusiasm as Ben Stiller
- 2000 · Meet the Parents as Greg Focker
- 1999 · The Suburbans as Jay Rose
- 1999 · The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller as Self
- 1999 · Freaks and Geeks as Agent Meara
- 1999 · Rove as Self
- 1999 · Teen Choice Awards as Self
- 1999 · TV total as Self
- 1999 · Family Guy as Ben Stiller (voice) (uncredited)
- 1998 · The King of Queens as Jerry - Arthur Spooner’s Father
- 1998 · There's Something About Mary as Ted Stroehmann
- 1998 · Zero Effect as Steve Arlo
- 1997 · Derek Zoolander University as Derek Zoolander
- 1997 · The View as Self
- 1997 · King of the Hill as Rich (voice)
- 1996 · Derek Zoolander: Male Model as Derek Zoolander
- 1996 · Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond as Self
- 1996 · The Daily Show as Self
- 1994 · Inside the Actors Studio as Self
- 1992 · The Nutt House as Pie Thrower (uncredited)
- 1987 · The House of Blue Leaves as Ronnie Shaughnessy
- Future · The Off Weeks as Gus Adler
- 1996 · If Lucy Fell as Bwick Elias
- 1996 · Happy Gilmore as Hal L. (uncredited)
- 1995 · Mr. Show with Bob and David as Jerry
- 1995 · Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist as Ben (voice)
- 1995 · NewsRadio as Vic
- 1994 · Friends as Tommy
- 1994 · Space Ghost Coast to Coast as
- 1994 · Duckman as Harry Medfly (voice)
- 1993 · Frasier as Barry (voice)
- 1993 · Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
- 1993 · Raw as Himself
- 1992 · The Ben Stiller Show as Various Characters
- 1992 · The Larry Sanders Show as Ben Stiller
- 1992 · MTV Movie & TV Awards as
- 1992 · The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as
- 1991 · Highway to Hell as Pluto's Cook / Attila the Hun
- 1990 · Working Tra$h as Freddy Novak
- 1989 · The Simpsons as Garth Motherloving (voice)
- 1989 · Elvis Stories as Bruce
- 1988 · Fresh Horses as Tipton
- 1988 · LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self
- 1987 · Empire of the Sun as Dainty
- 1987 · The Hustler of Money as Wince
- 1987 · Kids' Choice Awards as Host
- 1984 · Miami Vice as Fast Eddie Felcher
- 1984 · MTV Video Music Awards as Self - Host
- 1984 · Kate & Allie as
- 1982 · Late Night with David Letterman as Self
- 1981 · Entertainment Tonight as Self
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Various Characters
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Tom Cruise / Vincent Lauria (uncredited)
- 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self
- 1956 · Tony Awards as Self - Presenter
- 1953 · The Oscars as Self
- 1953 · The Oscars as Self - Presenter
- Future · Belly of the Beast as Norman Mailer
- Future · The Dink as
- Future · The Champions as