Ben Stiller's mom Anne Meara passed away at the age of 85.
CNN reported that the family reports the comedian died Saturday withno other details provided . She was married to Jerry Stiller, Ben's father, since 1954. The comedic duo gained prominence as Stiller and Meara focusing on domestic skits that paved a way to have the couple regulars on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
According to National Post, before landing it big in the comedic tandem of Stiller and Meara, she played several roles in TV sitcoms such as Archie Bunker's Place and the 80s alien themed comedy sitcom ALF.
Later in her career Meara also played roles in the HBO hit Sex and the City playing Mary Brady, Kings and Queens as Veronica. She also appeared in some episodes of the TV hit Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
In Tribute to the live and career of Anne Meara here are the top 5 roles as a comedian:
1. Veronica Rooney - Archie's Bunker - Meara played the cook at the place and the role found her made wisecracks and is always giving the place owener, Archie, a hard time. Veronica also pestered her boss to get the services of her openly gay nephew as a waiter to help him pay for his law school. Meara starred for the sitcom for a total of 3 seasons.
2. Dorothy Halligan Deaver - Alf - Dorothy is Kate's mother and she wasn't a big fan of the alien main character, Alf. Dorothy and Alf had a love/hate relationship wherein the alien character refers to her as The Wicked Witch of the West and in return, Dorothy always threaten Alf to turn him into a rug. Dorothy loves knitting and betting on horse races. Before moving in with the Tanners she used to live with her best friend Crazy Estelle.
3. Anne Bender - The Stiller and Meara Show - Meara plays Anne Bender the actress wife of the deputy mayor of New York Jerry Bender (Jerry Stiller). Although it was described that Anne is an actress, she only stars in commercials making her not really an actress but a "commercial" actress, literaly. She played a mother to 3 kids who had very diverse and interesting lives.
4. Veronica Olchin - Kings and Queens - Meara replaced Actress Grace Zabriskie as the alcoholic mother to Spencer Olchin who is played by Patton Oswalt. She was a recurring cast of the hit series and played along with the storyline that eventually ended up in marrying Arthur Spooner, played by his real life husband Jerry Stiller.
5. Debbie -Night at the Museum - Meara played a minor character in the film led by Jerry Stiller. Debbie is seen in the movie when Larry (Ben Stiller) goes to the Big Apple Employment Agency to find a job so he wouldn't be forced to live somewhere else and also to see his son. Debbie is responsible for Larry's gig at the museum.
"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," said the family in a statement, reported CNN.
Maera died of natural causes on May 23, 2015 is survived by his husband of 61 years Jerry Stiller and 2 kids, A-list actor Ben Stiller and actress Amy Stiller.
