Ben Stiller is an Emmy Award–winning American actor, comedian, and director born in 1965. Coming from a family deeply rooted in entertainment, he is best known for films such as There’s Something About Mary and Meet the Parents, and for shaping contemporary Hollywood comedy both in front of and behind the camera.

Benjamin Edward Stiller was born on 30 November 1965 in New York City and grew up in Manhattan. His father, Jerry Stiller, was an actor, writer, and comedian, while his mother, Anne Stiller, was an actress, comedian, and screenwriter. His sister, Amy Stiller, is also an actress. Reflecting on the influence of his parents on his career, Stiller once remarked with characteristic humor:

“If my mother and father had been plumbers, who knows what profession I would be doing now.”

Growing up surrounded by film and television, Ben Stiller entered the world of filmmaking at an early age. From the age of ten, he began making short films using a Super 8 camera with his sister and friends. His first acting experience came at the same age, when he appeared in his mother’s television series Kate McShane.

In 1983, Stiller enrolled in the film department at the University of California, Los Angeles, but left after nine months and returned to New York to pursue acting. He appeared on Broadway in The House of Blue Leaves, directed by John Guare, alongside John Mahoney. After continued work in theater, he landed a small role in Steven Spielberg’s 1987 film Empire of the Sun.

Stiller’s television breakthrough came in 1989 when he joined Saturday Night Live. In 1992, he launched his own sketch-comedy program, The Ben Stiller Show, on Fox Network. Featuring performers such as Andy Dick, Janeane Garofalo, and Bob Odenkirk, the show achieved critical success and earned Stiller an Emmy Award in 1993.

Before achieving widespread recognition as an actor, Ben Stiller directed several notable films. These included Reality Bites (1994), in which he also starred alongside Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke; The Cable Guy (1996), starring Jim Carrey; and later Zoolander (2001). His most defining breakthrough as an actor and director came with There’s Something About Mary (1998), where his performance opposite Cameron Diaz marked the peak of his early career and earned him the 1999 MTV Movie Award for Best Film.

One of Stiller’s most memorable television performances was his guest role as Tommy, Rachel’s aggressive boyfriend, in the Friends episode “The One With the Screamer.” He also appeared in series such as Arrested Development (as Tony Wonder) and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

A lifelong admirer of Tom Cruise, whom he frequently impersonated, Stiller created the parody character “Tom Crooze” for the television special Mission: Improbable, winning an MTV Movie Award. He has maintained close friendships with actors such as Owen Wilson, Adam Sandler, Jack Black, Kyle Gass, and Janeane Garofalo, often collaborating with them on screen.

In 2000, Stiller starred alongside Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman in Meet the Parents, followed by its sequel Meet the Fockers (2004). These films solidified his status as one of Hollywood’s leading comedy actors. He also demonstrated dramatic range in Black and White (1999) and lent his voice to the animated hit Madagascar (2005).

In 2006, Stiller starred in Night at the Museum, which became one of the year’s highest-grossing films. Its success led to the sequel Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009). In 2008, he directed, co-wrote, produced, and starred in Tropic Thunder, alongside Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr., achieving both critical and commercial success.

Stiller married actress Christine Taylor on 13 May 2000, whom he met during the filming of Zoolander. The couple has two children: a daughter, Ella Olivia Stiller (born 10 April 2002), and a son, Quinlin Dempsey Stiller (born 10 July 2005). In 2016, Stiller directed and starred in Zoolander 2, appearing alongside an ensemble cast that included Owen Wilson, Penelope Cruz, Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber, and Ariana Grande.

Filmography

Director
2016 – Zoolander 2
2013 – The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
2008 – Tropic Thunder
2001 – Zoolander
1996 – The Cable Guy
1994 – Reality Bites

Screenwriter
2001 – Zoolander

Producer
2016 – Zoolander 2
2016 – Why Him?
2013 – The Hardy Men
2011 – The Big Year
2010 – Megamind
2001 – Zoolander

Actor
2016 – Zoolander 2 (Derek Zoolander)
2014 – While We’re Young (Josh)
2014 – Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (Larry Daley)
2014 – Harmontown (Himself)
2013 – The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Walter Mitty)
2013 – The Hardy Men
2013 – The Birthday Boys (Mr. Turner) (TV Series)
2012 – The Watch
2012 – Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (Alex, voice)
2011 – Tower Heist (Josh Kovacs)
2010 – Little Fockers (Greg Focker)
2010 – The 82nd Annual Academy Awards (Host) (TV)
2010 – Megamind (Bernard, voice)
2010 – In Search of Ted Demme (Himself)
2010 – Greenberg (Roger Greenberg)
2009 – The Marc Pease Experience (Jon Gribble)
2009 – Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (Larry Daley)
2009 – 81st Academy Awards (Himself) (TV)
2008 – Tropic Thunder (Tugg Speedman)
2008 – Nick Nolte: No Exit (Himself)
2008 – Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Alex, voice)
2008 – August (Himself)
2007 – The Heartbreak Kid (Eddie Cantrow)
2007 – Up Close with Carrie Keagan (Himself) (TV)
2006 – Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (Guitarist)
2006 – Night at the Museum (Larry Daley)
2006 – Awesome; I Fuckin’ Shot That! (Himself)
2005 – Madagascar (Alex, voice)
2004 – Meet the Fockers (Greg Focker)
2004 – Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (White Goodman)
2004 – The 76th Annual Academy Awards (Himself) (TV)
2004 – Along Came Polly (Reuben Feffer)
2004 – Envy (Tim Dingman)
2004 – Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (Arturo Mendes)
2004 – Starsky & Hutch (David Starsky)
2003 – Bringing Down the House (Alex Rose)
2003 – Arrested Development (Tony Wonder) (TV Series)
2001 – Zoolander (Derek Zoolander)
2001 – The Movie Loft (Himself) (TV)
2001 – The Royal Tenenbaums (Chas Tenenbaum)
2001 – Come Together: A Night for John Lennon (Himself)
2000 – Meet the Parents (Greg Focker)
2000 – Curb Your Enthusiasm (Ben Stiller) (TV Series)
2000 – Keeping the Faith (Rabbi Jake Schram)
1999 – Mystery Men (Mr. Furious)
1999 – Black and White (Mark Clear)
1998 – Your Friends & Neighbors (Jerry)
1998 – The King of Queens (Guest Role) (TV Series)
1998 – Zero Effect (Steve Arlo)
1998 – Permanent Midnight (Jerry Stahl)
1998 – There’s Something About Mary (Ted Stroehmann)
1996 – If Lucy Fell (Bwick Elias)
1996 – Flirting with Disaster (Mel Coplin)
1996 – The Cable Guy (Sam Sweet)
1994 – Reality Bites (Michael Grates)
1994 – Friends (Tommy) (TV Series)
1992 – Highway to Hell (Attila Khan)
1990 – Stella (Jim Uptegrove)
1989 – Next of Kin (Lawrence Isabella)
1988 – Fresh Horses (Tipton)
1987 – Hot Pursuit (Chris Honeywell)
1987 – Empire of the Sun (Dainty)
1985 – Kate & Allie (Peter) (TV Series)
1984 – Cinema 3 (Himself) (TV Series)

Source: Biyografiler.com