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Jerry Stiller

Jerry Stiller

Actor · Died May 11, 2020, aged 92 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Gerald Isaac Stiller (June 8, 1927 – May 11, 2020) was an American actor and comedian. He spent many years as part of the comedy duo Stiller and Meara with his wife, Anne Meara, to whom he was married for over 60 years until her death in 2015. Stiller saw a late-career resurgence starting in 1993, playing George Costanza's father Frank on the sitcom Seinfeld, a part which earned him an Emmy nomination. The year Seinfeld went off the air, Stiller began his role as the eccentric Arthur Spooner on the CBS comedy series The King of Queens, another role that garnered widespread acclaim. Stiller appeared together with his son Ben Stiller in films such as Zoolander, Heavyweights, Hot Pursuit, The Heartbreak Kid, and Zoolander 2. He also performed voice-over work for films and television, including The Lion King 1½ and Planes: Fire and Rescue. In his later career, Stiller became known for portraying grumpy and eccentric characters who were nevertheless beloved.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 8, 1927
Died
May 11, 2020 (aged 92)
From
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
61 on Motif · 104 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 28% in 30 days

What are Jerry Stiller's films like?

Across their 34 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy17 titlesTypical Motif score: 30th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation5 titlesTypical Motif score: 44th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Motif score: 29th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Motif score: 27th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Motif score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
36%
Self
32%
Society
18%
Morality
7%
Ideas
3%
Survival
3%
Power
1%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 30 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 27 · Serious 2 · Dark 1

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 13 · Stylized 13 · Heightened 4

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 21 · Charged 8 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 18 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 17

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 23 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 11 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 11
Trickster
2 of 11
Mentor
2 of 11
Threshold guardian
1 of 11
Shapeshifter
1 of 11
Ally
1 of 11
Herald
1 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
19
Absurd
18
Warm
13
Melancholic
7
Hopeful
7
Other
27

How their films linger

Feel-good24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy19
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jerry Stiller's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 37 of their 61 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jerry Stiller's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

104 credits, 61 with a Motif page; 21 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Zoolander: Super Model(2016)

    as Maury Ballstein (voice)

    Motif score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Zoolander 2(2016)

    as Maury Ballstein

    Motif score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Simpler Times (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    as Harry

  • How Murray Saved Christmas(2014)

    as Murray Weiner (voice)

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Planes: Fire & Rescue(2014)

    as Harvey (voice)

    Motif score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Cousins (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    Producer · as Charlie Gordon

  • Excuse Me for Living(2012)

    as Morty

    Motif score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Foodfight!(2012)

    as General X (voice)

    Motif score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Swinging with the Finkels(2011)

    as Mr. Winters

    Motif score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Fish Hooks(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · as Principal Stickler · as Principal Stickler (voice)

    Motif score: 8th percentile of all shows

  • Mercy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Thalberg

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Felix Afterman

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Ice Dreams(2009)

    as Skipper

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Heartbreak Kid(2007)

    as Doc

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Hairspray(2007)

    as Mr. Pinky

    Motif score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Wonder Pets!(2006)

    Show 38 episodes · as Old White Mouse (voice)

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • The Lion King 1½(2004)

    as Uncle Max (voice)

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy(2004)

    as Man in Bar (uncredited)

    Motif score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Behind the Legend: Timon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as Uncle Max (voice)

  • Timon & Pumbaa's Virtual Safari 1.5 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as Uncle Max (voice)

  • Teacher's Pet(2004)

    as Pretty Boy (voice)

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Serving Sara(2002)

    as Milton the Cop

    Motif score: 15th percentile of all films

  • On the Line(2001)

    as Nathan

    Motif score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Zoolander(2001)

    as Maury Ballstein

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Independent(2000)

    as Morty Fineman

    Motif score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Teacher's Pet(2000)

    Show 47 episodes · as Pretty Boy (voice)

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • My 5 Wives(2000)

    as Don Giovanni

    Motif score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Chump Change (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as The Colonel

  • The Suburbans(1999)

    as Speedo Silverberg

    Motif score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Secret of the Andes(1998)

    as Dr. Golfisch

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all films

  • A Fish in the Bathtub(1998)

    as Sam

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Crashbox(1999)

    Show 52 episodes · Actor

    Motif score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The King of Queens(1998)

    Show 207 episodes · as Arthur Spooner

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Hercules(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Eagle (voice)

    Motif score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • A Rat's Tale(1997)

    as Prof. Plumpingham

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Deli (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Petey Cheesecake

  • SubwayStories: Tales from the Underground(1997)

    as Old Man (segment "The 5:24")

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Camp Stories (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Schlomo

  • Stag (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Ted

  • Deadly Games (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Phil Cullen

  • Going, Going, Almost Gone! Animals in Danger (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Heavyweights(1995)

    as Harvey Bushkin

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Maury Salt

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Baseball(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · as (voice) · as Various (voice)

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Tracey Takes on New York(1993)

    as Theatrical Producer

    Motif score: 85th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Pickle(1993)

    as Phil Hirsch

    Motif score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Homicide: Life on the Street(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as McGonnigal

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Larry Sanders Show(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Jerry Stiller

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Highway to Hell(1991)

    as Desk Cop

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Women & Men 2: In Love There Are No Rules(1991)

    as Irving

    Motif score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Sunset Gang (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    as Seymour Shapiro (segment "The Detective")

  • Little Vegas (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    as Sam

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael Tobis · as Sam Pokras

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Freefall (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    as Emily's Father

  • Sweet 15(1990)

    as Mr. Waterman

    Motif score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Pair of Jokers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    as Scully Wexler

  • Seinfeld(1989)

    Show 29 episodes · as Frank Costanza

    Motif score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • That's Adequate (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Sid Lane

  • Tattingers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 15 episodes · as Sid Wilbur

  • Monsters(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Victor

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • In the Heat of the Night(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Rabbi Feldman

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Hairspray(1988)

    as Wilbur Turnblad

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Nadine(1987)

    as Raymond Escobar

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Hot Pursuit(1987)

    as Victor Honeywell

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Hustler of Money (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    as Stu

  • Shoeshine (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    as Father

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Nat Pincus

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Seize the Day(1986)

    as Dr. Tamkin

    Motif score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The McGuffin (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    as Marty de Reske

  • The Equalizer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Brahms

  • Screen Two (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Marty de Reske

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Birnbaum

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Tales from the Darkside (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Luther Mandrake

  • Reading Rainbow(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Dinosaur Comedian (voice)

    Motif score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Other Woman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    as Mel Binns

  • Amanda's (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Sal Malzone

  • American Playhouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Rosenbloom · as Seymour Shapiro (segment 'Yiddish', 'The Detective')

  • Simon & Simon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Madame X (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    as Burt Orland

  • Those Lips, Those Eyes(1980)

    as Mr. Shoemaker

    Motif score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Archie Bunker's Place(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Hart to Hart (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Myron Finkle

  • Time Express (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dick Clark's Good Old Days (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Actor

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Bud Hanrahan · as Tony Vitelli

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Nasty Habits (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    as P.R. Priest

  • Alice(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • The Ritz(1976)

    as Carmine Vespucci

    Motif score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Saturday Night Live(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Stu (uncredited)

    Motif score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Joe and Sons (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 14 episodes · as Gus Duzik

  • Airport 1975(1974)

    as Sam

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Taking of Pelham One Two Three(1974)

    as Rico Patrone

    Motif score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Rhoda (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Paul Lynde Show (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 2 episodes · as Barney Dickerson

  • A Memory of Two Mondays (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    as Mechanic

  • Great Performances (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Mechanic

  • Lovers and Other Strangers(1970)

    as Jim

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Love, American Style (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry · as Leonard Ferguson

  • The Courtship of Eddie's Father(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Landon · as Paul Sterling

    Motif score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Linus the Lionhearted (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • The Defenders (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Sergeant Wysenski

  • General Electric Theater (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Harold

  • Lamp Unto My Feet (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Candide

  • Studio One (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Sergeant Joe Capriotti

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 104 titles from 1948 to 2016; peak year 1987.

Biggest box office

The Heartbreak Kid (2007)

$128M worldwide

Highest rated

Seinfeld (1989)

Motif 97th

Film career

19482016

Peak 1987 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 2 Motif titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting104 of 104: 103 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Motif score45thProducing1 of 104: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1940s2 · acting1950s1 · acting1960s4 · acting1970s17 · acting1980s24 · acting1990s28 · acting2000s18 · acting2010s10 · 10 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 22 roles
709005

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Jerry Stiller's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 35th percentile, the median of all 38; across their 30 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 31st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Approval · how many liked their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Reach · how many have seen their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Motif score across 61 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th17

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 61 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed21

Most divisive · actor

Foodfight! (2012)

99th percentile spread · 69% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Seinfeld (1989)

Motif 97th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 27 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jerry Stiller's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 Motif titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles8–47 · median 21 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles23–72 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 31
Profanity7 titles20–73 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 35
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles18–56 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles6–45 · median 11 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Jerry Stiller work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jerry Stiller's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ben Stiller shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers