Comedian Jerry Stiller has died at the age of 92 from natural causes.
Confirming the news on Twitter, son Ben Stiller wrote: "I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes. 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."
Jerry Stiller is perhaps best known for starring as George Costanzas’ father Frank on the hit US sitcom Seinfeld, before going on to play Arthur Spooner on The King of Queens, alongside Kevin James and Leah Remini.
The beloved comedian and actor was born in New York in 1927, and served in the US Army during World War II. In 1953, he married comedian Anne Meara. The two would go on to form the comedy duo act simply called Stiller and Meara.
Stiller, who was Jewish, used the dissimilarities between him and his Catholic, Irish-American wife, who was also two inches taller, for what became their signature routine on The Ed Sullivan Show.
During a 2005 Archive of American Television sit-down with her husband, Meara said: "That was Jerry’s idea, to use and plumb the depths of our backgrounds, exaggerate them and have the two differences of the Jewish and the gentile."
They were married until her death at the age of 85 on May 23, 2015.
Their daughter, Amy Stiller, is also an actress, and acted alongside her father in several King of Queens episodes.
Jerry also co-starred alongside son Ben in movies like Zoolander, Heavyweights, Hot Pursuit, The Heartbreak Kid, and Zoolander 2.
Tributes for the late comedian have been pouring in on Twitter, with writer Mehdi Hasan telling Ben:
"Oh man, so so sorry to hear this Ben. Your father, as Arthur in King of Queens, brought so much laughter & joy to my wife & I. Just a few weeks ago we introduced him/his character to our kids and they loved him, laughed with him, too. He was such a talent, so sorry for your loss."
Comedian Christopher Titus also tweeted out: "I’m in tears. So sorry, and thank you for the joy and the laughter Jerry Stiller, you were, and will always be, comedy gold. RIP"
Our thoughts are with Jerry's family, friends, and fans at this time.
