Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller (born November 30, 1965) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. Known for his blend of slapstick humour 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 honours 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.
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Known For
Nutcrackers
Mike Maxwell
2024
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life
Self
2023
Bleecker
Dr. Pots
2023
Greed
Self
2019
Don't Think Twice
Self
2016
Drake Sather: The Man Who Created Zoolander
2016
While We're Young
Josh Schrebnick
2015
Sweet Micky for President
Self
2015
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
Larry Daley / Laaa
2014
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Walter Mitty
2013
Madly Madagascar
Alex (voice)
2013
Le Débarquement
Self - host
2013
The Watch
Evan
2012
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
Alex (voice)
2012
Tower Heist
Josh Kovacs
2011
Submarine
Soap Opera Star (uncredited)
2011
Little Fockers
Greg Focker
2010
Megamind
Bernard (voice)
2010
I'm Still Here
Ben Stiller
2010
Greenberg
Roger Greenberg
2010
Merry Madagascar
Alex (voice)
2009
The Marc Pease Experience
Jon Gribble
2009
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Larry Daley
2009
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Alex (voice)
2008
Tropic Thunder
Tugg Speedman
2008
The Heartbreak Kid
Eddie Cantrow
2007
Night at the Museum
Larry Daley
2006
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Guitar Center Guy
2006
School for Scoundrels
Lonnie Ratcliff
2006
All Aboard the Crazy Train
Self - Special Appearance
2005
Madagascar
Alex (voice)
2005
Meet the Fockers
Greg Focker
2004
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Arturo Mendes
2004
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
White Goodman
2004
Envy
Tim Dingman
2004
Starsky & Hutch
David Starsky
2004
Along Came Polly
Reuben Feffer
2004
Duplex
Alex Rose
2003
The Royal Tenenbaums
Chas Tenenbaum
2001
Zoolander
Derek Zoolander
2001
Mission: Improbable
Tom Crooze
2001
Meet the Parents
Greg Focker
2000
Keeping the Faith
Rabbi Jake Schram
2000
Mystery Men
Mr. Furious / Roy
1999
Permanent Midnight
Jerry Stahl
1998
Your Friends & Neighbors
Jerry
1998
There's Something About Mary
Ted Stroehmann
1998
Zero Effect
Steve Arlo
1998
The Cable Guy
Sam Sweet
1996
Flirting with Disaster
Mel Coplin
1996
Heavyweights
Tony Perkis / Tony Perkis Sr.
1995
Reality Bites
Michael Grates
1994
Empire of the Sun
Dainty
1987
The Semplica Girl Diaries
The Champions
Bros
Ben Stiller (uncredited)
2022
Belly of the Beast
Norman Mailer
Meet the Parents 4
Greg Focker
2026
Happy Gilmore 2
Hal L.
2025
Locked Down
Guy
2021
Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine
8008s
2020
Hubie Halloween
Orderly Hal
2020
Celebrity Escape Room
Self
2020
Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics
Self
2020
Beastie Boys Story
Self
2020
Rat
Drew Larson
Dear Santa
Lucifer (uncredited)
2024
Bridget Everett: Gynecological Wonder
Self
2015
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Here Comes the Night Time
Fake Arcade Fire Bandmember
2013
Inside Comedy
Self · (1 episode)
2012
Clinton Foundation: Celebrity Division
Self
2011
Phineas and Ferb
Khaka Peü Peü (voice) · (1 episode)
2007
Danny Roane: First Time Director
Self
2006
The Henry Rollins Show
(1 episode)
2006
Extras
Ben Stiller · (1 episode)
2005
Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?
Self (archive footage)
2004
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
Self
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2003
American Idol
Self · (2 episodes)
2002
Wish Kids
(47 episodes)
2002
Undeclared
Rex · (1 episode)
2001
The Andy Dick Show
Self · (1 episode)
2001
The Early Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1999
Family Guy
Ben Stiller (voice) (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1999
The King of Queens
Jerry - Arthur Spooner’s Father · (1 episode)
1998
The Daily Show
Self · (5 episodes)
1996
Saturday Night Special
(1 episode)
1996
Friends
Tommy · (1 episode)
1994
The Simpsons
Garth Motherloving (voice) · (1 episode)
1989
The House of Blue Leaves
Ronnie Shaughnessy
1987
The Dink
Everybody's Live with John Mulaney
Self - Actor and Director · (1 episode)
2025
Bianca by Night
Self - Guest (video link) · (1 episode)
2025
Krapopolis
Prometheus (voice) · (1 episode)
2023
The Playboy Murders
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2023
Severance
Kier Eagan (voice) (uncredited) · (1 episode)
2022
Gone Mental with Lior
Self · (1 episode)
2020
Desus & Mero
Self - Illustrious Guest · (1 episode)
2019
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
Self
2017
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
Matthew Meyerowitz
2017
Brad's Status
Brad Sloan
2017
Everybody Has an Andy Dick Story
2017
The Truth Is in the Stars
Self
2017
Haters Back Off
Himself · (1 episode)
2016
Quotidien
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2016
Zoolander: Super Model
Derek Zoolander (voice)
2016
Zoolander 2
Derek Zoolander
2016
Being Canadian
Self
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
(1 episode)
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Another Period
Charles Ponzi · (1 episode)
2015
Big Time in Hollywood, Fl
Jimmy Staats · (1 episode)
2015
Hot Ones
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Chicken Shop Date
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2014
Running Wild with Bear Grylls
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Harmontown
Self
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (2 episodes)
2014
Nantucket Film Festival's 2nd Comedy Roundtable
Self
2013
The Birthday Boys
(1 episode)
2013
He's Way More Famous Than You
Ben Stiller
2013
Le Débarquement
(1 episode)
2013
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
Self
2012
Nantucket Film Festival's Comedy Roundtable
Self - Panelist
2012
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Self
2012
Ted's Notebook
Self · (1 episode)
2012
The Jonathan Ross Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2011
The Trip
Ben Stiller
2011
Eagleheart
Silly Sammy · (1 episode)
2011
The Trip
Ben Stiller · (1 episode)
2010
Funny People
Friend in video (archive footage) (uncredited)
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (2 episodes)
2009
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story
Self
2009
Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness
Tugg Speedman
2008
Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis
Self · (1 episode)
2008
The Farrelly Bros.: In the French Tradition
Self
2007
Sesame Street: Elmo's Christmas Countdown
Stiller the Elf (voice)
2007
AFI: 100 Years... 100 Movies... 10th Anniversary Edition
Self
2007
The Making of 'The Pick of Destiny'
Self
2007
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (3 episodes)
2007
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
Self · (1 episode)
2007
Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner
Self - Filmed Roaster
2006
The One Show
Self · (1 episode)
2006
Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!
Self
2006
Earth to America
Self
2005
Romanekian
Himself
2005
Confessions of an Action Star
Commander
2005
Nobody Knows Anything!
Peach Expert (uncredited)
2004
On Air with Ryan Seacrest
Self · (1 episode)
2004
Arrested Development
Tony Wonder · (7 episodes)
2003
Comedy Central Roasts
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Pauly Shore Is Dead
Ben Stiller (uncredited)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (2 episodes)
2003
Prehistoric Planet
Narrator (voice) · (6 episodes)
2002
Run Ronnie Run
Self
2002
Orange County
Firefighter (uncredited)
2002
America | A Tribute to Heroes
Self
2001
Primetime Glick
(1 episode)
2001
Playboy Mansion Parties Uncensored
Self
2001
The Independent
Cop
2000
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Ben Stiller · (4 episodes)
2000
The Suburbans
Jay Rose
1999
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller
Self
1999
Freaks and Geeks
Agent Meara · (1 episode)
1999
Rove
Self · (1 episode)
1999
Black and White
Mark Clear
1999
Teen Choice Awards
Self - Nominee · (1 episode)
1999
TV total
Self · (1 episode)
1999
Heat Vision and Jack
Self / Strip Club DJ (uncredited)
1999
Derek Zoolander University
Derek Zoolander
1997
The View
Self · (1 episode)
1997
King of the Hill
Rich (voice) · (1 episode)
1997
Derek Zoolander: Male Model
Derek Zoolander
1996
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
Self
1996
E! True Hollywood Story
(1 episode)
1996
If Lucy Fell
Bwick Elias
1996
Happy Gilmore
Hal L. - Orderly in Nursing Home (uncredited)
1996
Mr. Show with Bob and David
(1 episode)
1995
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Ben (voice) · (1 episode)
1995
NewsRadio
Vic · (1 episode)
1995
Inside the Actors Studio
Self · (1 episode)
1994
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
(1 episode)
1994
Duckman
Harry Medfly (voice) · (1 episode)
1994
Frasier
Barry (voice) · (1 episode)
1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (4 episodes)
1993
Raw
Himself · (1 episode)
1993
The Ben Stiller Show
Various Characters · (13 episodes)
1992
The Nutt House
Pie Thrower (uncredited)
1992
MTV Movie & TV Awards
(1 episode)
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(2 episodes)
1992
Highway to Hell
Pluto's Cook / Attila the Hun
1991
Working Tra$h
Freddy Novak
1990
Stella
Jim Uptegrove
1990
Next of Kin
Lawrence Isabella
1989
That's Adequate
Chip Lane
1989
Elvis Stories
Bruce
1989
Fresh Horses
Tipton
1988
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
(3 episodes)
1988
Hot Pursuit
Chris Honeywell
1987
The Hustler of Money
Wince
1987
Kids' Choice Awards
Host · (1 episode)
1987
Shoeshine
Son
1987
Miami Vice
(1 episode)
1984
MTV Video Music Awards
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1984
Kate & Allie
(1 episode)
1984
Late Night with David Letterman
Self · (1 episode)
1982
Entertainment Tonight
Self · (2 episodes)
1981
Saturday Night Live
Self - Various Characters · (5 episodes)
1975
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host · (2 episodes)
1975
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited) · (9 episodes)
1975
Kate McShane
Nickie · (1 episode)
1975
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (1 episode)
1961
The Oscars
Self · (3 episodes)
1953
The Oscars
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1953
Today
Self · (1 episode)
1952