Hollywood may shine bright on the outside, but Ben Stiller says life behind the curtain isn’t always glamorous. In a raw new interview with Howard Stern, the Zoolander star reflected on what it was really like growing up as the son of legendary comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara… and how that childhood shaped both his career and his perspective on fame.
Stiller, 59, revealed that while his parents’ success gave him access to Hollywood from a young age, it also exposed him to the struggles many outsiders don’t see. “As a kid, you see the stress, the toll it takes on relationships, and the darker side of fame. I witnessed it up close,” he shared, referencing themes explored in his upcoming documentary Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost.
Despite the behind-the-scenes pressures, Stiller admits he never second-guessed following in his parents’ footsteps. In fact, watching their resilience fueled his own ambition. “Even seeing the tough parts, if you have the passion, you do it,” he said.
His new documentary dives deep into the professional and personal partnership of Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, a marriage and career built on laughter, love, and determination… one that inspired Stiller’s own comedic journey.
For the actor-director, Hollywood’s glitz will always come with shadows, but his parents’ legacy continues to remind him why he chose this path.
