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