Ben Stiller: biography and filmography of a Hollywood actor. Best movies with Ben Stiller

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Popular American actor Ben Stiller (full name Benjamin Edward Stiller) was born on November 30, 1965 in New York. Ben's parents, father Jerry Stiller and mother Annie Mira, are artists of the comic genre, and although the profession is not inherited, the boy was doomed to love theatrical, pop and film arts. Ben grew up in an atmosphere of improvisation, short performances in the living room, spontaneous mise-en-scenes and constantly playing music.

Los Angeles or New York

Therefore, it was not surprising that the eighteen-year-old Stiller, with the blessing of his parents, left for Los Angeles and entered the University of California film production department, hoping to get an education and devote his life to filmmaking. However, the reality turned out to be completely different, directly opposite to Ben's dreamy moods. There was no romance, classes were held in a strict and boring atmosphere. After 10 months, Ben Stiller left the university and returned to New York. The next day, the young man signed up forordinary courses of actors and began to enthusiastically study the difficult craft of a theatrical artist.

Television

In 1985, agents of one of the New York film studios noticed Stiller when he played a small role in the theatrical production of "The House of Blue Leaves" based on the play by John Guare. He was invited to audition, and since then actor Ben Stiller has become an integral part of American cinema. His roles were mostly episodic, but he immediately took up the production of short films, thereby realizing his creative potential. His fantasy was boundless, the films turned out to be interesting, at a fairly professional level. One of Stiller's works was even purchased by the NBC television channel for his TV show. In a 10-minute film, Ben created a real parody of Martin Scorsese's famous film The Color of Money. Stiller himself played Tom Cruise, and he called one of his friends for the role of Paul Newman. After the short was shown on TV on Saturday Night Live, Ben Stiller became an overnight star. Showered with invitations to participate in film projects.

Film debut

On the big screen, Ben Stiller first appeared in 1987 in Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun", where he played Dainty, a character in a small episodic action. The debut was successful, but there were no invitations to more significant roles. And then Ben switched all his attention to television. After some preparationhe was entrusted with participation in the television show "Saturday Night Live". Work on television projects was going well, but Ben wanted more independence, and he began to prepare his own program. In order to earn a living, Stiller starred in episodic film roles, and devoted the rest of his time to working on his television project. In 1992, the program was completed and began airing regularly under the name The Ben Stiller Show. After some time, Ben expanded the format of the show, which became longer. In order to develop the program, he invited professional comedians Andy Dick and Janine Jarofalo. The three of them worked for one year, and then the show was closed.

Director Stiller

In 1994, Stiller returned to film work and directed the melodramatic comedy Reality Bites. The picture was not commercially successful: with a budget of 11 million, it grossed 33 million at the box office, which, by Hollywood standards, is more than a modest figure. However, the success of the film was evident in terms of story decisions and production process. Since the picture was considered successful and was Stiller's directorial debut, he could hope for his further fruitful advancement in the field of film production. And films with Ben Stiller promised to be successful. In 1996, the actor made another film, it was the black comedy The Cable Guy starring Jim Carrey. Once again, the commercial success of the project was very modest: with a budget of 50 million, the box office was a little over 100million dollars. Ben was somewhat disappointed in his directing abilities and decided not to bet on this segment of cinema anymore.

Stiller's comedies

In 1998, Ben Stiller starred in the romantic comedy "There's Something About Mary". The film grossed $360 million on a budget of $23 million. It was a kind of commercial sensation, and since Ben played the role of Ted, the main character, the critics attributed the success of the picture to his account. Of course, the heroine, the beautiful Mary, played with brilliance by the Hollywood star of the first magnitude Cameron Diaz, also contributed. After the release of the film, Ben Stiller had no end of offers for the main roles. Comedies with Ben Stiller had an important advantage, they provided high box office receipts. Ben became a sought-after comedian, two or three films with his participation were released a year. The most notable films are "Meet the Parents" directed by Jay Roach, with Robert de Niro in the first leading role, Ben Stiller played the second leading role - Greg.

Ben Stiller and Robert de Niro

In 2001, Ben Stiller again sat down in the director's chair and made the film "Model Male", which was a moderate success only due to the fact that Stiller himself played the main role. He still failed to make films. But as an actor, Ben could ensure the success of any picture in the comedy format. Ben Stiller's new film, warmly received by the public, is Meet the Fockers, in which Stiller has already playedfamous Greg, but in a different situation. Hollywood stars of the first magnitude took part in the film: Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman, Terry Polo, and of course, Robert de Niro. Films starring Ben Stiller, subject to star partnerships, were thus doomed to success.

Golden Raspberry

In the same year, another film starring Ben Stiller was released - Here Comes Polly directed by John Hamburg. The picture was also a success, as the star Jennifer Aniston added charm to it. Stiller himself played Reuben Feffer. Despite the fact that films with Ben Stiller break box office records, the actor himself is deservedly considered the best collector of "Golden Raspberry" in the history of Hollywood. He is the only actor who, in 2005 alone, received 5 Golden Raspberry awards, which is given in the Worst Role nomination. Such a paradoxical phenomenon in American cinema.

Filmography

Ben Stiller, whose filmography has added 25 more films since 2006, expects to eventually receive not only the Golden Raspberry, but at least one Oscar as an award.

Filmography from 2006 to present:

• Year 2006 - "Night at the Museum", directed by Shawn Levy: Ben Stiller - the main role. School for Rogues directed by Todd Philips: Ben Stiller - Lonnie.
• Year 2007 - "The Girl of My Nightmares", directed by Peter Farrelly:Ben Stiller - the main role.
• Year 2008 - "Soldiers of Doom", directed by Ben Stiller, the main role.
• Year 2009 - "Night at the Museum-2", directed by Shawn Levy: Ben Stiller - the main role. "Meet Mark" directed by Tad Louis: Ben Stiller - John Gribble.
• Year 2010 - "Greenberg", directed by Noah Baumbach: Ben Stiller - Greenberg. "Meet the Fockers 2" directed by Paul Weitz: Ben Stiller - Greg.
• Year 2011 - "How to Steal a Skyscraper" directed by Brett Ratner: Ben Stiller is the main character.
• Year 2012 - Vigilantes, director Akiva Schaeffer: Ben Stiller - the main role. Arrested Development directed by Troy Miller: Ben Stiller - Tony Wonder.
• Year 2013 - "The Secret Life of W alter Mitty", director Ben Stiller, main role.
• Year 2014 - "Night at the Museum-3", directed by Shawn Levy: Ben Stiller - the main role.

Ben Stiller, whose filmography currently consists of 64 films, hopes to bring his number of films to 100.

Private life

The personal life of Ben Stiller in his younger years was quite hectic. He met exclusively with Hollywood film actresses, among his girlfriends Jeanne Tripplehorn, Janine Garofalo, Amanda Peet, Calista Flockhart. In the spring of 2000, Ben settled on actress Christine Taylor, whom he also met on the set. Later, they starred together in the films "Bouncers" and "Model Male". The married couple lives happily and, unlike most residents of Malibu and Beverly Hills, does not think about divorce. They have a daughter, the lovely Ella Olivia, who recently turned 12, and a son, Quinley Dempsey, who was born in July 2005. Growing children are often present on the set when their dad is filming another comedy role. And this means that Ben Stiller is no longer looking at young actresses.