Earlier today it was announced that comedian and actor Jerry Stiller has died at the age of 92 from natural causes.
Confirming the news on Twitter, son and actor 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.
Following the news of his passing, tributes have poured in on social media for the late actor, including a heartwarming message from The King of Queens star Kevin James, who played Stiller's on-screen son-in-law in the hit US sitcom.
Posting to Instagram, James shared a photo showing him embracing his late friend, along with the caption:
"One of the most kind, loving, and funny people to ever grace this earth. Thank you for so many incredible memories. I love you and miss you. Requiescat in pace."
Leah Remini, who played Jerry's on-screen daughter for nine years on The King of Queens, also posted a touching tribute on Instagram, alongside an image of the two of them. She wrote:
"I was lucky enough to work with Jerry Stiller, playing his daughter for 9 years on The King Of Queens, but even luckier to know him, the man, the husband, the father, the grandfather. I am only comforted knowing that Anne & Jerry, the great comedy duo of Stiller & Meara are back together. I will be forever grateful for the memories, the fatherly talks off screen and for the many years of laughter, the kindness he had shown to me and my family...You will be so very missed Jerry.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with you Amy & Ben."
Actress Rebecca Metz also shared her memories of Jerry, writing: "Very early on, I had a few lines on King of Queens. My dad (also a Jerry) came to the taping and got to meet Jerry Stiller, who kvelled over how proud he must be of me. A comedy legend and the sweetest, most humble man. May his memory be a blessing."
Stiller's former co-stars from the popular sitcom Seinfeld also shared their tributes on social media.
Jerry Seinfeld tweeted out: "Jerry Stiller's comedy will live forever."
The titular star also shared a picture of him holding a copy of The Last Two People In the World, a classic 1967comedy LP Stiller released with his late wife Anne Meara.
Seinfeld also retweeted a tribute from the sitcom's producer George Shapiro, that read: "So sad that Jerry Stiller left us at the young age of 92. There was no one sweeter than Jerry. He was a joy to work with and brought countless laughs to the set of 'Seinfeld'. One memory was so vivid with him & Julia breaking each other up doing 'You want a piece of me' bit"
Actor Jason Alexander, who played Stiller's on-screen son in the beloved sitcom, also tweeted in honor of the late actor. He shared:
"Such sad news that my beloved friend, Jerry Stiller, has passed. He was perhaps the kindest man I ever had the honor to work beside. He made me laugh when I was a child and every day I was with him. A great actor, a great man, a lovely friend. #RIPJerryStiller I Love you."
Alexander also shared a photo of the pair with the simple but heartwarming caption: "Yeah. I adored this man."
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.
Our thoughts are with Jerry's family, friends, and fans at this time.
