Jun 08, 1927 – May 11, 2020
Jerry Stiller, the comedian who was best known for his roles on “Seinfeld” and “The King of Queens,” has died of natural causes, Ben Stiller, his son, announced on Monday. He was 92.
“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,” his son said in a tweet.
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.
Stiller recalled that he was out of work and not the first choice for the role of Frank Costanza, father to Jason Alexander’s neurotic George.
“My manager had retired,” he said. “I was close to 70 years old, and had nowhere to go.”
Other famed moments on “Seinfeld” include his invention of the “bro,” or “manssiere,” a brassiere for men. Another episode famously saw him as a Korean War cook fearful to ever cook again after he inflicted food poisoning on his entire unit.
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.
Jerry Stiller, ‘Seinfeld’ actor and veteran comic, dead at 92
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