Ben Stiller
Storm’s Filmography: Ben Stiller
Date of Birth
30 November 1965, New York City, New York, USA
Birth Name
Benjamin Edward Stiller
Height
5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
Mini Biography
Ben Stiller was born on November 30, 1965, in New York, New York to legendary comedians Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. It’s not surprising that Ben Stiller has followed in his family’s footsteps. Ben’s parents made no real effort to keep their son away from the Hollywood lifestyle and he grew up among the stars, wondering just why his parents were so popular. At a young age, he and his sister Amy Stiller would perform plays at home, wearing Amy’s tights to perform Shakespeare. Ben also picked up an interest in being on the other side of the camera and, at age 10, began shooting films on his Super 8 camera. The plots were always simple: someone would pick on the shy, awkward Stiller…and then he would always get his revenge. This desire for revenge on the popular, good-looking people may have motivated his teen-angst opus Reality Bites (1994) later in his career. He both directed and performed in the film, which costarred Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke.
Before he even got his start in Hollywood, Ben put in several consistently solid years in the theater. After dropping out of UCLA, he performed in the Tony Award winner, “The House of Blue Leaves”. While working on the play, Stiller shot a short spoof of The Color of Money (1986) starring him (in the Tom Cruise role) and his The House of Blue Leaves (1987) (TV) costar John Mahoney (in the Paul Newman role). The short film was so funny that Lorne Michaels purchased it and aired it on “Saturday Night Live” (1975). This led to Ben spending a year on the show in 1989.
Ben made his big screen debut in Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun (1987) in 1987. Demonstrating early on the multifaceted tone his career would take, he soon stepped behind the camera to direct Back to Brooklyn for MTV. The network was impressed and gave Stiller his own show, “The Ben Stiller Show” (1992). He recruited fellow offbeat comedians Janeane Garofalo and Andy Dick and created a bitingly satirical show. MTV ended up passing on it, but it was picked up by Fox. Unfortunately, the show was a ratings miss. Stiller was soon out of work, although he did have the satisfaction of picking up an Emmy for the show after its cancellation.
For a while, Ben had to settle for guest appearance work. While he was doing this, he saved up his cash and in the end was able to scrape enough together to make Reality Bites (1994), now a cult classic which is looked upon favorably by the generation it depicted. Ben continued to work steadily for a time, particularly in independent productions where he was more at ease. However, he never quite managed to catch a big break. His first big budget directing job was Jim Carrey’s The Cable Guy (1996). Although many critics were impressed, Jim Carrey’s fans were not.
In 1998, There’s Something About Mary (1998) had propelled Ben into the mainstream spotlight. With his wince-inducing turn in the Farrelly brothers’ gross-out film, Ben really “struck a nerve” with mainstream America. In recent years, Ben has starred in such hit movies as Keeping the Faith (2000) and Meet the Parents (2000). Ben excels at cerebral comedy, but he knows how to get down and lowbrow when he needs to, making him one of America’s currently most popular performers.
Spouse
Christine Taylor (13 May 2000 – present) 2 children
Trade Mark
His characters are often arrogant and short tempered
Sarcastic Deadpan Disposition
Films (Excluding TV Episodes/Mini Series)
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – Walter Mitty – 2013 (Pre-Production)
While We’re Young – 2012 (Pre-Production)
Neighbourhood Watch – 2012 (Filming)
Madagascar 3 – Alex [Voice] – 2012 (Post Production)
He’s Way More Famous Than You – Ben Stiller – 2012 (Post Production)
Tower Heist – Josh Kovacs – 2011
Will Ferrell: Mark Twain Prize – 2011 (TV Movie)
Little Fockers – Greg Focker – 2010
Megamind – Bernard [Voice] – 2010
Submarine – Soap Opera Star [Uncredited] – 2010
Greenberg – Roger Greenberg – 2010
The Marc Peas Experience – Jon Gribble – 2009
Night at the Museum 2 – Larry Daley – 2009
Madagascar 2 – Alex [Voice] – 2008
Tropic Thunder – Tugg Speedman – Hot LZ – 2008
Elmo’s Christmas Countdown – Stiller the Elf [Voice] – 2007
The Heartbreak Kid – Eddie – 2007
Night at the Museum – Larry Daley – 2006
Tenacious D in The pick of Destiny – Guitar Centre Guy – 2006
Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Event for Autism Education – David Blaine – 2006 (TV Movie)
School for Scoundrels – Lonnie – 2006
Danny Roane: First Time Director – 2006
Madagascar – Alex [Voice] – 2005
Sledge: The Untold Story – Commander (Uncredited) – 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
Nobody Knows Anything! – Peach Expert (Uncredited) – 2003
Our House – Alex Rose – 2003
Pauly Shore Is Dead – Ben Stiller (Uncredited) – 2003
Orange County – The Firefighter (Uncredited) – 2002
The Royal Tenenbaums – Chas Tenenbaum – 2001
Zoolander – Derek Zoolander – 2001
Meet the Parents – Gaylord ‘Greg’ Focker – 2000
Keeping the Faith – Rabbi Jake Schram – 2000
The Independent – Cop – 2000
Black and White – mark Clear – 1999
Mystery Men – Mr. Furious – 1999
The Suburbans – Jay Rose – 1999
Permanent Midnight – Jerry Stahl – 1998
Your Friends & Neighbours – Jerry – 1998
There’s Something About Mary – Ted – 1998
Zero Effect – Steve Arlo – 1998
The Cable Guy – Sam Sweet/ Stan Sweet – 1996
Flirting with Disaster – Mel Coplin – 1996
If Lucy Fell – Bwick Elias – 1996
Happy Gilmore – Hal. L. – Orderly in Nursing Home (Uncredited) – 1996
Heavy Weights – Tony Perkis – 1995
Reality Bites – Michael Grates – 1994
The nutt House – Pie Thrower (Uncredited) – 1992
Highway to Hell – Pluto’s Cook/Attila the Hun – 1991
Working Trash – Freddy Novak – 1990
Stella – Jim Uptegrove – 1990
Next of Kin – Lawrence Isabella – 1989
That’s Adequate – Chip Lane – 1989
Fresh Horses – Tripton – 1988
Empire of the Sun – Dainty – 1987
The House of Blue Leaves – Ronnie Shaughnessy – 1987
Hot Pursuit – Chris Honeywell – 1987
Too Late the Rebel – Peter – 1986
© Marcus De Storm 2011
