Jerry Stiller.

On June 8, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York, Gerald Isaac Stiller was born to Bella Citron and William Stiller, a bus driver. His paternal grandparents were Jewish emigrants from Galicia, and his mother was a Polish Jewish emigrant from Frampol. He attended Seward Park High School and later Syracuse University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Drama in 1950. He studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village. His acting debut was on stage with Burgess Meredith in The Silver Whistle in 1951.

Half of the husband-and-wife comedy team Stiller and Meara, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show 36 times in the 1960s. In 1989, Stiller landed the role of Frank Costanza on Seinfeld, earning an Emmy nomination in 1997 and an American Comedy Award in 1998. He played Arthur Spooner on The King of Queens from 1998 to 2007. He also appeared in films such as The Ritz 1976, Heavyweights 1995, Zoolander 2001, The Heartbreak Kid 2007, and Hairspray 2007. He performed on Broadway in shows like Hurlyburly, The Ritz, and Two Gentlemen of Verona.

In 1954, Jerry Stiller married actress Anne Meara. They had two children: Amy Stiller and Ben Stiller, both actors. The couple wrote, performed, and produced radio commercials together for products like Blue Nun Wine and United Van Lines. Anne Meara passed away on May 23, 2015. He died on May 11, 2020, at age 92 in Manhattan, New York City. He was cremated and buried at Nantucket Jewish Cemetery in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Jerry Stiller’s portrayal of Frank Costanza on Seinfeld defined sitcom comedy in the 1990s. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for television at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard. He was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. His comedy duo with Anne Meara influenced generations of married comedians. He appeared in 11 movies with his son Ben Stiller. His autobiography Married to Laughter was published in 2000. His explosive comedic timing and ability to steal every scene remain his hallmark.