Ben Stiller

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9.0 Superb
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Biography

Recent Role:
Himself on Saturday Night Live
Gender:
Male
Born:
11-30-1965
Birthplace:
New York, New York, U.S.A.
Birth Name:
Benjamin Edward Stiller
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 amongst the stars, wondering just why his parents were so popular. At a young age, he and his sister Amy 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… More 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 starring him (in the Tom Cruise role) and his House of Blue Leaves, The (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. He recruited fellow off beat comedians Janeane Garofalo and Andy Dick and created a bitingly satirical show. MTV ended up passing on the show 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 Cable Guy, The (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 Mystery Men (1999), Keeping the Faith (2000) and Meet the Parents (2000). Still, Ben excels at cerebral comedy, but he knows how to get down and lowbrow when he needs to, making him one of America's most under-appreciated comics.

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  •  
    8.5 Great
    This dude is funny. hide show

    Okay,I think this dude really funny and his movies are some of the funniest films ever made,like Tropic Thunder.His voice in animated movies are neat,like Madagascar:Escape 2 Africa.He is a big comedian,like Adam Sandler.I've seen some of his movies and their so funny.But Adam Sandler is still my favorite actor.Even his movies too.A comedian like this one does better at his movies and a Kids Choice Award host.Ben Stiller is funny and he is good at playing Alex the lion in the Madagascar movies.I am so waiting to see Night At The Museum:Battle At The Smithsonium.He is so really funny.

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    woahwoah678 Added Apr 5, 2009 All my reviews
  •  
    10 Perfect
    Hilarious! In some of the greatest movies I've ever seen. hide show

    Ben Stiller is an amazing and talented actor. He mostly stars in movies that are comedies, which happen to be my favorite movie category. Some of the movies that he stars in (and which I strongly recommend if you haven't already seen them) include: Heavy Weights, Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers, Zoolander, Along Came Polly, Dodgeball, Madagascar, and Night at the Museum. Ben Stiller is a good actor, but, in my opinion, he is much better in movies with Owen Wilson. Since he and Owen are both comedians, they make the movie more exciting and funnier. My two favorite Ben Stiller movies are Zoolander and Night at the Museum, and Owen Wilson is in both of them.

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    trm6 Added Mar 4, 2008 All my reviews
  •  
    9 Superb
    Ben Stiller is best known for playing many roles co-starring his father Jerry Stiller. hide show

    Ben Stiller was born Benjamin Edward Stiller on November 30, 1965 in New York City to famous comedians Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. Ben got bit by the acting bug from seeing his own parents perform in Hollywood. Growing up his sister Amy and him would dress and do plays and act in their parent's home. On May 13, 2000, he marrried Christine Taylor and they have two children: Ella Olivia born on April 10, 2002 and Quinlin Dempsey born on July 10, 2005 both in Los Angeles. In 2005, he was offered a role in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but turned it down to do other roles in other movies. That same year, he revealed he had bipolar disorder and said that it runs in the family. I love Ben's acting and I hope to continue to see him more movies.

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    meislost Added Oct 19, 2007 All my reviews
  •  
    10 Perfect
    empty hide show

    A very talented actor and comedian.

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    thecomedianky Added Aug 26, 2007 All my reviews
  •  
    7 Good
    empty hide show

    A verry funny man, who can realy act well.

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    FilipHolm Added Mar 18, 2007 All my reviews
 

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