Remembering a Comedy Icon: ‘Seinfeld’ Actor Jerry Stiller Passes Away At 92

Actor and comedian Jerry Stiller passed away at the age of 92. His son Ben Stiller announced the “Seinfeld” actor’s death on Twitter very early Monday morning. Jerry’s lifelong love, wife and comedy partner Anne Meara, died in 2015.

Ben Stiller Remembers His Dad, Jerry

Jerry Stiller was half of the duo “Stiller and Meara.” While many Hollywood couples were a flash in the pan, these two were in it for the long haul and enjoyed a thriving marriage for over six decades.

Stiller enjoyed a storied acting and comedy career. But he arguably is best known as George Costanza’s loud father Frank on “Seinfeld.”

RELATED: Classic Skit of Stiller and Meara Arguing Will Have Laughing Until You Cry!

“I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes. He was a great dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed. Love you Dad,” Ben Stiller tweeted.

While Stiller was known by modern television fans as a funny man, he also was a serious dramatic Broadway actor. His talent had a broad range and he was a master of his art. 

RELATED: ‘Seinfeld’ Actor Found Dead In Bizarre Scene, Decomposed And Scavenged By Vultures

In “Seinfeld” and subsequent roles such as Arthur “King of Queens,” Stiller often played the senior citizen who said things typical of a senior citizen who grew up in a much different and simpler world.

As Frank Costanza, he introduced us to the holiday of Festivus and the manssiere. 

Ben Stiller’s Comedic Legacy

From Fox News: 

Stiller, who started his career in the 1950s alongside his wife Anne Meara, had a resurgence in the 90s with his iconic character, Frank Costanza on the TV show “Seinfeld.”

He was known as the high strung father of George Constanza and was often seen bullying his TV son. Some of his well known moments include his famous Festivus celebration, as well as the phrase “Serenity now!” He earned an Emmy nomination in 1997 for his “Seinfeld” performance.

After “Seinfeld,” Stiller co-starred as the father to Leah Remini’s character, Carrie Heffernan in the sitcom “The King of Queens,” which aired from 1998 to 2007. It also starred comedian Kevin James.

He wrote an autobiography, “Married to Laughter,” about his 50-plus year marriage to Meara, who died in 2015. Stiller and Meara were considered a top comedy act in the 1960s, appearing on “The Ed Sullivan Show” roughly 36 times.

In 2001, he appeared in the hit comedy “Zoolander,”  which his son starred in and directed. He played Zoolander’s manager, Maury Ballstein.

Stiller earned a drama degree at Syracuse University after serving in World War II, and then headed to New York City to launch his career. There was a brief involvement in Shakespearean theater, including a $55 a week job with Jack Klugman in “Coriolanus.”

Jerry Stiller left an enormous footprint on the entertainment world, but his lifelong marriage to Anne Meara and the family built together is his crowning achievement.

Some of Frank Costanza’s most well known clips can be seen in the video below.