Anne Meara, Of Stiller And Meara, Has Died
Anne Meara, actress, writer, comedian and Ben Stiller’s mom, died today. She is now holding hands with the A Beautiful Mind math genius as they make their way up to heaven. Anne was 85 years old.
Anne’s husband of 61 years (which is 5,678,998 in Hollywood marriage years) Jerry Stiller and Ben Stiller confirmed her death to the Associated Press. They said that she had died of natural causes.
Anne Meara married Jerry Stiller in 1954 and after they performed in the improv group that would later become Second City, they formed the comedy duo of Stiller and Meara in the 60s. Stiller and Meara were on The Ed Sullivan Show and the starred in a 5-minute long short comedy program that ran right after Saturday Night Live in the 70s. They also did radio ads for Blue Nun Wine together. When the whole variety show game started to disappear, Anne and Jerry did their own thing professionally. Anne started acting in TV shows and movies and over the course of her career she was in everything from Rhoda to Archie Bunker’s Place to her own show Kate McShane to The King of Queens to Reality Bites to Zoolander, etc… etc.. Children of the 80s probably know her as the grandma in ALF and Sex and the City watchers known her as Steve’s mom.
A rep for her family released this statement:
“Anne’s memory lives on in the hearts of daughter Amy, son Ben, her grandchildren, her extended family and friends, and the millions she entertained as an actress, writer and comedienne.”
Rest in peace, Anne. If I had a bottle of Blue Nun Wine, I’d pour some out for you right now.
Pic: Wenn.com