LOS ANGELES — Ben Stiller made a personal documentary about the lives of his famous parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. However, the Hollywood star admits that he didn’t think about how his family would react until after he finished the project.
In a recent interview, Stiller explained, “It was really kind of after the fact, once we got to the place where the movie was what it was, that I started to think about how it might feel to have it out in the world. I had to kind of figure that out for myself.”
Furthermore, the actor from “Meet the Parents” also thought about how his parents might react to such a personal portrayal. In fact, he said he spent a lot of time thinking about how they would feel about having their story told this way.
The Legacy of Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller
“Stiller and Meara: Nothing is Lost” tells the amazing story of the famous comedy duo who won over America after their big break on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1963. Subsequently, the couple had successful careers in scripted TV. They starred together in popular shows like “Rhoda” and “The King of Queens.”
Sadly, Anne Meara died in 2015 at the age of 85. She had been married to Jerry Stiller for 61 years. Consequently, the documentary is both a tribute to their relationship and an examination of what it was like to grow up in their shadow.
Being Raised by Famous Parents
Meanwhile, the 59-year-old actor talked about the difficult things that come with having famous parents. These experiences have significantly affected how he raises his own children in the public eye.
“At first, I wanted to be the kind of parent who doesn’t make the same mistakes that their parents did. Of course, you make all of these other mistakes. That’s just how life is,” Stiller explained.
Moreover, he remembered how fans would always stop his parents on the street when he was a kid. “That was always a thing, always being at the mercy of who your parents would run into when you were a kid. It can be a little confusing,” he said. Notably, he admitted that his own kids have been in similar situations with him.
Where to Watch
Finally, the documentary will be shown in theaters for the first time on Friday. Following that, it will be available to stream on Apple TV on October 24.
