Comedian Jerry Stiller, father of Ben Stiller, dies aged 92

Comedian Jerry Stiller has died aged 92, his family have announced.

“I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes," Ben Stiller, his actor son, wrote on Twitter on Monday, May 11.

"He was a great dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed. Love you Dad.”

Stiller was married to actress Anne Meara from 1954 until her death in 2015. The couple had two children, who are both actors, Ben and Amy Stiller. The couple also made up a comedy team, starring on 1960s and 1970s television variety programmes.

From the 1990s, he was best known for his roles in TV comedies Seinfeld and The King of Queens. 

Stiller also had a successful movie career, often starring alongside son Ben. The duo appeared in together in Zoolander (1 and 2), The Heartbreak Kid, Heavyweights and Hot Pursuit. His final role was in 2016's Zoolander 2. 

Tributes are flooding in for Stiller.

Comedian Christopher Titus wrote that he was in tears following the news of the actor's death.

Good Day Alabama anchor Mike Dubberly wrote of Stiller: "A brilliantly, funny man. As a fan of Seinfeld, I keep some of his lines in my recall-repertoire. RIP and long live Festivus for the Rest of Us." Festivus references the non-commercial, non-religious alternative holiday to Christmas, which his character championed in Seinfeld. 

Science writer Ketan Joshi wrote to Ben Stiller: "He was a wonderful man and a brilliant actor. Love to you and your family."

Filmmaker Michael Matteo Rossi wrote: "I'm so so sorry for your loss Ben; he was a talented man and my condolences to you and your family."