Jerry Stiller
June 8, 1927-May 11, 2020
We all heard the sad news about the death of comedian Jerry Stiller. Prior to gaining fame as part of the comedy duo Stiller and Meara, and on TV shows such as Seinfeld and The King of Queens, Jerry Stiller had a long career on stage and film. You can read about his many accomplishments, and see a listing of his filmography.
If you want to see a different side of Mr. Stiller, check out Seize The Day (1986) on kanopy. Based on the novel by Saul Bellow, Seize the Day tells the tale of Tommy Wilhelm (Robin Williams), an honest, hard-working salesman who has lost his job, his girlfriend, and part of his sanity. Jerry Stiller is featured as Dr. Tamkin, a not so good guy, who has bilked Tommy out of his investment savings.
Jerry Stiller is also featured in the documentary When the World Breaks (2010), a film about creativity and survival during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Depression-era life and art are depicted with rare film clips and personal stories from survivors including Jerry Stiller, Buzz Aldrin, Ray Bradbury and Phyllis Diller.
In our DVD collection, you can find the 1974 version of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, in which Jerry Stiller plays Lt. Rico Patrone who is working alongside Walter Matthau’s character as armed men hijack a New York subway car and demand a ransom for the passengers.
Also in our DVD /Bluray collection is the 1988 film version of Hairspray. Jerry Stiller is unforgettable as Wilbur Turnblad! (In the 2007 film version, he played Mr. Pinky).
