Jerry Stiller Movies
To the public at large, Jerry Stiller is best known as the husband and comedy partner of actress/director Anne Meara, and as the father of comedian Ben Stiller. For those addicted to the NBC sitcom Seinfeld, Stiller will never be anyone else than Frank Costanza, the eternally kvetching father of born-loser George Costanza (Jason Alexander). While Stiller would be the first to welcome recognition on these terms, to acknowledge him for the above-mentioned reasons alone would be grossly unfair. A stage performer from the age of 10, Stiller majored in drama at the University of Syracuse, then took to the road in a touring company of Peter Pan. Honing his comic timing to perfection under the tutelage of revue director Billy Barnes, Stiller chose to concentrate his laughmaking skills in the Classics, specifically Shakespeare. He made his off-Broadway debut in a 1953 production of Coriolanus, and subsequently paid homage to the Bard of Avon as a member of such prestigious troupes as the Stratford (Connecticut) Shakespeare Festival and Joseph Papp's Shakespeare in the Park. Stiller made his Broadway bow in 1975 as ill-tempered gangster Carmine Vespucci in Terence McNally's The Ritz, a part he recreated in the 1976 film version. Among his many other film credits are Lovers and Other Strangers (1970), Hairspray (1988) and the made-for-television Seize the Day (1987). The actor's series-TV resumé includes the roles of Barney Dickerson in The Paul Lynde Show (1972), Gus Duzik in Joe and Sons (1975) and Sid Wilbur in Tattinger's (1988). He also co-starred with wife Anne Meara in the syndicated Take Five with Stiller and Meara (1977), and provided voiceovers for the animated Linus the Lionhearted (1964) and the multipart Ken Burns TV special Baseball (1994). Jerry Stiller has been honored with the Radio Advertising Bureau's Voice of Imagery Award for his persuasive radio and TV spots on behalf of the Public Broadcasting System. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 2009
Linny enlists Ming-Ming and Tuck to help rescue an Old White Mouse at her grandma's nursing home. ~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide
Ten years after The Lion King shot to the top at the box office and first introduced the characters of Simba (Matthew Broderick) and his pals Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella), Disney presented this retelling of the Academy Award-winning animated musical. Switching the perspective to that of meerkat Timon and warthog Pumbaa, The Lion King 1 1/2 puts a new spin on the events of the original film. This time around, the comic duo are conveniently at the center of much of the story. Along with returning cast members Moira Kelly, Whoopi Goldberg, and Cheech Marin, The Simpsons' Julie Kavner and Seinfeld's Jerry Stiller lend their voices to newcomer characters Timon's Mom and Timon's Uncle Max, respectively. The straight-to-video film also features the never-before-heard song "That's All I Need." ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, (more)
- 2003
On the cusp of stardom, standup comic Maija DiGiorgio suffered an emotional breakdown while performing before a room packed with a number of the comedy industry's head honchos -- whom were on the receiving end of DiGiorgio's obscenity-laced outburst -- at the Aspen Comedy Festival. Subsequently faced with a nearly industry-wide blacklisting as a result, the comic (and film school graduate) came upon the idea of creating a film journal to document her struggles within the industry, as well as within her own psyche. The result is Bitter Jester, DiGiorgio's 2003 film that started as a document of self-examination and evolved into an examination of success and achievement within the standup circuit. Greatly assisted by the contacts and prestige of executive producer Richard Belzer -- a friend and former employer of DiGiorgio's boyfriend and co-conspirator Kenny Simmons -- DiGiorgio proceeds to gain access to a surprising berth of comedy legends, including Chevy Chase, Richard Pryor, Phyllis Diller, Whoopi Goldberg, and George Carlin, all of whom dispense insightful and sometimes surprising opinions about their individual achievements. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide
Season six of The King of Queens begins by opening an old wound: namely, the argument between blue-collar couple Doug and Carrie Heffernan (Kevin James, Leah Remini) over Doug's weight problem. Ironically, Carrie is not upset because Doug is fat, but because he has shed several pounds -- and now is attracting the attention of various and sundry female onlookers! Though this crisis will be resolved, there is still Carrie's cantankerous dad, Arthur (Jerry Stiller), who lives with the couple, to contend with. Elsewhere, Doug's pal Deacon (Victor Williams) is given the opportunity to reconcile with his wife, Kelly (Merrin Dungey), from whom he's been separated for two years. Among the many highlights of the series' sixth season are a guest appearance by Anne Meara, the wife and longtime comedy partner of regular Jerry Stiller; another guest-star turn by Janeane Garofalo as Doug's ex-girlfriend Trish Flintoff; the trepidations accompanying rumors that the law firm where Carrie works may be laying people off; Doug's dilemma when he recalls "all the girls I've loved before" while coming out of the anesthetic after having his appendix removed; a frenzied attempt to prevent the opening of a rare bottle of wine before Doug can sell the bottle on eBay; and the burgeoning relationship between Doug's friend Spence (Patton Oswalt) and his new girl, Denise (Rachel Dratch). In the season finale, Arthur insists that his walking companion, the considerably younger Holly Shumpert (Nicole Sullivan), move into the Heffernan basement after she is booted from her apartment. Ratings for The King of Queens continued to be encouraging for CBS during the 2003-2004 season, though rumors persisted that the next season would be the last. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin James, Leah Remini, (more)
- 2002
Not many stand-up comedians are openly gay, and fewer still are handicapped, but comic Greg Walloch just so happens to be both, and he's developed a growing cult following for his act, in which he pokes politically incorrect fun at his sexual preferences, his physical condition, and how society and the world around him reacts to both. F**k The Disabled (which is meant not as an epithet, but a polite request) is a documentary about Greg Walloch, in which he discusses his life and career while also sharing highlights from his nightclub act. F**k The Disabled also includes interviews with a number of Greg's admirers, including Stephen Baldwin, Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, and Michael Musto. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Season five of The King of Queens is still set in the titular New York borough, and still revolves around blue-collar delivery driver Doug Heffernan (Kevin James) and his legal-assistant wife, Carrie (Leah Remini) -- not to mention Carrie's cantankerous widowed father, Arthur (Jerry Stiller), who lives with the couple. The most significant plot development during this season is the divorce of Doug's pal Deacon Palmer (Patton Oswalt) and his wife, Kelly (Merrin Dungey). This puts Doug in the position of being the occasional surrogate parent to the couple's children, Kirby (Marshaun Daniel) and Major (Damani Roberts). Highlights from the fourth season include Doug's "temporary bachelor" status when Carrie begins working the night shift at the law firm; Carrie's conviction that her prayers are coming true, and the method by which she louses up this divine intervention; a titillating episode involving a sexy addition to Doug's bowling team and Carrie's misadventures with a breast-obsessed child; Doug's frantic efforts to cover up an indiscretion -- namely, taking a photograph of his "privates"; two Thanksgiving dinners with no turkeys; Carrie forcing Doug to get professional help for his binge-eating; and various run-ins with the Heffernans' intellectual new neighbors, Mike and Debi Ross (Michael Lowry, Marcia Cross). The season closer finds Carrie going bed-shopping thanks to Doug's carelessness -- and isn't that former "Incredible Hulk" Lou Ferrigno as the Heffernan's next-door neighbor? Though ratings fluctuated throughout The King of Queens' fifth season, the series continued to perform admirably, at one point ranking as America's tenth most popular program. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin James, Leah Remini, (more)
Blue-collar couple Doug and Carrie Heffernan (Kevin James, Leah Remini) are still living in their modest but comfy digs in Queens, NY -- and still sharing space with Carrie's tactless, obstreperous father, Arthur (Jerry Stiller) -- as The King of Queens enters its fourth season. The previous season's two-part cliffhanger, involving Carrie's pregnancy, is resolved in a melancholy fashion when she miscarries, though the couple still intends to conceive again sometimewhere down the line. Also down in the dumps is Arthur, whose last friend from his old nursing home has moved away. His reaction to this turn of events is not to moan and kvetch (his accustomed behavior), but to spend his entire day sleeping -- only to wake up full of energy in the evening, just when Doug and Carrie would rather take it easy. This compels Doug to hire someone to listen to, and put up with, Arthur; the person chosen is Holly Shumpert (Nicole Sullivan), a character introduced in the previous season as a ditsy baby-store salesperson named Marilyn. Otherwise employed as a dog walker for Doug's pal Spence (Patton Oswalt), Holly agrees to walk with Arthur three times per week and feign interest in his long-winded war stories (though eventually she comes to genuinely enjoy the old guy's company). In another development, the rapidly unraveling marriage of Doug's buddy Deacon (Victor Williams) and his wife, Kelly (Merrin Dungey), totally collapses, and Kelly moves out with her two children. Highlights from season four include Doug's efforts to break the 951-consecutive-perfect-delivery record at his job; Carrie going on a retreat with her fellow law-firm employees; Arthur's struts and frets as he prepares to undergo heart surgery; Doug and Carrie recalling the events leading up to their wedding, including a "Sign from God" -- and later on, the couple staging an elaborate reenactment of their first date; Carrie driving Doug to distraction as she prepares for a big-time legal case; the unexpected discovery of a generous check from Doug's cousin, and the ensuing consequences; and Doug's dreams of quitting his job and running his own sandwich shop. The season ends with the series' 100th episode, in which Arthur reluctantly agrees to see a psychotherapist about his hilariously uncontrollable anger. The 2001-2002 season saw The King of Queens posting its best ratings so far, finally cracking the Top 20 of network programs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin James, Leah Remini, (more)
Actor and playwright Stephen Burrows makes his directorial debut with this independent comedy that takes a witty look at the downside of working in the movie business. Steve (Burrows) is a writer, actor, and comic who years ago left his hometown of Milwaukee, WI, for the bright lights of Hollywood and who, after years of struggling, has managed to get his foot in the door of show business thanks to his appearance in a widely seen commercial for a personal hygiene product called "Crotch Fresh." Steve decides to pay a visit to his friends in the Midwest, and while in Milwaukee he meets Sam (Traci Elizabeth Lords), an attractive woman interested in knowing more about his career in entertainment. As Steve and Sam get to know each other, he regales her with a number of remarkable stories about fascistic acting coaches, egocentric producers, and studio heads too young to hold a driver's license. Stephen Burrows was able to persuade a number of his well-known colleagues to appear in Chump Change, including Tim Matheson, Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, Fred Willard, and Abe Vigoda. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Matheson, Traci Lords, (more)
More blue-collar comedy is served up during season three of The King of Queens, with very little divergence from the basic premise, in which delivery driver Doug Heffernan (Kevin James) and his law-clerk wife, Carrie (Leah Remini), manage to stay happy and reasonably content, even though Doug is driven crazy by Carrie's loudmouthed father, Arthur (Jerry Stiller), who lives with the couple, and Carrie is not overly fond of Doug's capricious buddies Deacon (Victor Williams), Spence (Patton Oswalt), and Richie (Larry Romano). New developments this season include the arrival of Doug's younger sister Stephanie (Ricki Lake), a schoolteacher on the rebound from a punctured romance, who drops into the Heffernans to air her grievances, and the establishment of another recurring character, Carrie's law-firm boss, Mr. Pruzan (Alex Skuby). Halfway through the season, the marriage between Doug's friend Deacon and his wife, Kelly (Merrin Dungey), begins to fall apart (he's been stepping out, but Doug can't bring himself to call it "cheating"). Highlights during season three include Doug's efforts to spice up his love life by adopting the foreign accent and Continental charm of his new co-worker; Carrie's not-so-subtle attempt to get Doug to lose weight, leading to a nit-picky free for all; the Heffernan's efforts to economize when Doug's company goes on a long strike; a Thanksgiving flashback to the first time Doug met Carrie's parents (Florence Henderson of Brady Bunch fame is seen as Carrie's mom); Super Bowl shenanigans involving a high-def TV; and, in the classic episode "Inner Tube," Doug imagines himself and Carrie as the stars of such pop-culture classics as The Honeymooners and Wheel of Fortune. In the season's two-part finale, Carrie finds out that she is pregnant, compelling Doug to take a second job (Nicole Sullivan, cast in this two-parter as a saleswoman in a baby store, would later become a series regular in the same role). Its ratings ever-improving, The King of Queens shot up from 37th to 25th place amongst 157 network shows during the 2000-2001 season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin James, Leah Remini, (more)
Season two of The King of Queens finds blue-collar couple Doug and Carrie Heffernan (Kevin James, Leah Remini) still sharing their small but comfy Queens, NY, home with Carrie's cantankerous and overbearing father, Arthur (Jerry Stiller). Relatively new to the proceedings is Doug's stumblebum cousin Danny (played by series star Kevin James' real-life brother Gary Valentine), who halfway through the season gets married -- forcing Doug, who can't stand the guy, to serve as Danny's best man. Another character who rapidly ascends to the "recurring" category is Kelly Palmer (Merrin Dungey), the wife of Frank's buddy Deacon Palmer (Victor Williams). Highlights of the second season include another of several crossover episodes with Everybody Loves Raymond as Ray and Debra Barone (Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton) pay a visit to the Heffernan spread. Also, a spiteful Carrie takes up smoking when Doug buys a motorcycle against her wishes; Doug manages to get a staple stuck in his groin; the Heffernans have second thoughts after agreeing to serve as godparents for the Palmers' baby; Doug becomes convinced he's a devil with women when a waitress gives him the once-over; Carrie may have to be bumped from Doug's bowling team, but it's Doug who should have been bumped; a high-school reunion leads to a row over a famous "blocked" kick; Arthur moves from the basement to the room across from Doug and Carrie's, giving him even more opportunity to drive Doug crazy; Doug agrees to participate in a charity foot race, even though the strain may do him in; and Carrie forces Doug to "boycott" his favorite Italian restaurant. The final episode finds Doug and Carrie preparing for a cross-country vacation, even though Carrie had wanted to go to Europe (and she exacts a cruel revenge when she doesn't get her wish!). Though not the top-rated sitcom on the CBS docket, The King of Queens did reasonably well, ranking 35th out of 153 network programs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin James, Leah Remini, (more)
- 1999
Already a holiday favorite in Britain, Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire features the voice of comedian Ardal O'Hanlon as a plucky reindeer eager to become one of Santa's chosen sleigh-pullers. To achieve his goals, however, he has to overcome the slings and arrows of Blitzen, who feels threatened by Robbie's fancy hoofwork. In the spirit of animator Nick Park's Wallace and Gromit series, Robbie the Reindeer was designed by the BBC's Bristol Animation Unit and also features the all-star voices of Jane Horrocks, Rhys Ifans, and pop star Robbie Williams, the latter crooning an updated version of "Come Fly with Me." ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robbie Williams, James Woods, (more)
- 1999
After four decades in show business, the husband and wife comedy team of Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara finally make their big-screen debut together in this story about a marriage on its last legs. Sam (Stiller) and Molly (Meara) have been married for over 40 years. Their children are grown and living on their own, and the romance has drifted out of their relationship; arguing has become their favored method of communication. But the bickering goes too far when Molly asks Sam to get rid of the carp he's keeping in the tub in their guest bathroom. Sam informs Molly that if she doesn't like the fish, she can leave -- and Molly takes him up on the offer, moving in with their son Joel (Mark Ruffalo). This is hardly good news for Joel, who is having problems with his wife and feeling tempted to stray by an attractive blonde at work. Meanwhile, Sam and Molly's daughter Ruth (Jane Adams) tries to convince her father to win back her mother, but Sam receives some surprising competition when Molly starts dating an old friend named Lou (Bob Dishy). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, (more)
- 1998
In the concluding half of Seinfeld's controversial series finale, Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), George (Jason Alexander), Kramer (Michael Richards), and Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) find themselves stranded in Latham, MA -- and even worse, they are facing arrest for violating the town's new Good Samaritan law (it seems there was this mugging...). Hoping to beat the rap -- and make it to California in time for Jerry to sell his proposed sitcom "about nothing" -- the gang engages the services of flamboyant lawyer Jackie Chiles (Phil Morris). Alas, the prosecution has managed to round up a daunting array of witnesses to bolster their case against the foursome, including Sidra (Teri Hatcher) of "they're real and they're spectacular" fame, the Soup Nazi (Larry Thomas), Marla the Virgin (Jane Leeves), and the Bubble Boy (Jon Hayman) -- while the sour-faced judge (Stanley Anderson) with the familiar-sounding name fumes, and a vengeful Newman (Wayne Knight) chuckles from the sidelines. As for the now-legendary final scene...haven't we had this conversation before? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Package delivery truckdriver Doug Heffernan (Kevin James), who lives in Queens with his wife, Carrie (Leah Remini), likes to hang out with his pals (Larry Romano, Victor Williams, Patton Oswalt) in his sports-bar basement where they all kid around and knock back the brewskis. But that all changes when Leah's recently widowed father, Arthur Spooner (Jerry Stiller), moves into Doug's beloved basement. Next, Carrie's actress wannabe sister, Sara (Lisa Rieffel), also moves in. Can Doug deal with it? Filmed in L.A., this series premiered September 21, 1998, on CBS. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin James, Leah Remini, (more)
- 1998
In the first half of Seinfeld's controversial series finale, Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) receives word that NBC is very interested in his concept of a sitcom "about nothing."Almost immediately, Jerry and George (Jason Alexander) draw up plans to move to California -- but not before taking fiendish delight in refusing to take Newman (Wayne Knight) along. Things come to a head in a private jet, as Jerry, George, Kramer (Michael Richards), and Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) are forced down in Latham, MA...and then.... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Monica (Roma Downey) and Andrew (John Dye) are assigned to the old-time comedy team of Salt and Pepper, who are about to be inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Maury Salt (Jerry Stiller) and Ed Pepper (Tom Poston) have hated each other ever since the argument that broke them up thirty years ago. Reluctantly reunited for the induction ceremony, the two showbiz veterans start quarrelling all over again, and it takes the intervention of Monica, posing as Salt's woefully inept new comedy partner, to restore a semblance of peace and quiet. As it turns out, if a reconciliation is to take place, it had better be soon; one of the partners hasn't much longer to live. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Season one of the CBS sitcom The King of Queens introduces the world to blue-collar delivery truck driver Doug Heffernan (Kevin James) and his white-collar wife, Carrie (Leah Remini), who works for a New York law firm. Comfortably ensconced in their home in Queens, NY, Doug and Carrie are a happy couple -- especially Doug, who in his basement has set up his own private "domain," complete with the 70-inch television that his wife has bought him. This blissful situation evaporates when Carrie's widowed, tactless, constantly kvetching dad, Arthur Spooner (Jerry Stiller), moves in with the Heffernans and immediately takes over the basement, forcing Doug and his buddies Deacon (Victor Williams), Spence (Patton Oswalt), and Richie (Larry Romano) to use the garage as their new hang-out headquarters. Even worse, Carrie's irresponsible sister, Sara Spooner (Lisa Rieffel), a would-be actress, has all but moved into Doug's bathroom (but only for a few episodes, after which Sara disappears without explanation or fanfare). During the rest of the season, Doug begins to grow a bit jealous of Carrie's fast-lane Manhattan lifestyle; more relatives (mostly Doug's) invade the sanctity of the Heffernan home; Arthur tries gamely to be "one of the guys," generally causing more trouble than he's worth; Doug and Carrie attend adult-education classes, with disastrous results; the Heffernans clash with their uptight new neighbors, the Sackseys; and Ray Barone (Ray Romano) of Everybody Loves Raymond fame pays a visit to his friend and kindred spirit Doug. At season's end, and despite worries that their careers won't allow it, Doug and Carrie consider having a baby. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin James, Leah Remini, (more)
- 1998
When Sid (Sid Newman) dies, nearly all of the crew members of The Larry Sanders Show find themselves in mourning. Having just told Sid in a jealous rage that the audience was laughing "at" him instead of "with" him following a successful skit, Hank (Jeffrey Tambor) is especially affected due to the fact that he feels partially responsible for Sid's death. As Hank vows to offer financial support to Sid's family, Larry (Garry Shandling) attempts to keep his relationship with Laura Dern a secret. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1997
"Serenity now" are the control words that George's dad, Frank (Jerry Stiller), is supposed to utter every time his blood pressure rises. Conversely, Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) finally learns how to lose his temper -- and it isn't pretty. In other developments George (Jason Alexander) is invited to join Frank's latest business enterprise, selling computers -- bringing him in very close contact with his old enemy Lloyd Braun (Matt McCoy). Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) discovers her "shiksappeal" when a young Jewish boy tongue-kisses her during his bar mitzvah. And Kramer (Michael Richards) takes on "Anytown, U.S.A." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this comedy, a hard-luck gambler learns a new commandment: Honor Thy Mother's Lottery Winnings. Johnny Amico (Mike Starr) runs a delicatessen in New York City; regarded as a nice guy by his friends and regular customers, he has a weakness for gambling and is usually in debt. Johnny is constantly nagged by his well-meaning but domineering mother (Judith Malina), who gives him ten dollars to play the same number every week in the lottery. One week, her number turns up a winner, but this is bad news for Johnny: convinced that the number would never win, he's been using the money to place bets of his own. Now Mom expects Johnny to come up with the prize money for a winning ticket he never bought; Johnny hatches a scheme to raise the money, but, given his usual success as a gambler, no one is very optimistic that he can pull it off. The Deli features an impressive list of supporting names, including actors Michael Imperioli, Frank Vincent, and Debi Mazar; rappers Heavy D and Ice T; singer David Johansen; and model Iman. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) ends up with an extra 6,000 dollars when his parents sell their Cadillac. The folks hope Jerry will use the money to start a new career -- but Jerry's first move is to buy back the Caddie. Meanwhile, Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is solicited for advice by Kramer (Michael Richards) when his girlfriend develops "the jimmy legs" after sex. And George (Jason Alexander) begins spending scads of money in anticipation of a huge inheritance. The "J. Peterman stock options" loom large over the action -- and the outcome -- of this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
The strike at the bagel place ends after 12 long years -- but will Kramer (Michael Richards) go back to his old job? In trying to blow off a guy in a bad denim jacket, Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) may also blow her chances to win a free sub sandwich. George (Jason Alexander) harks back to the all-purpose "Festivus" holiday created by his dad to cover both Christmas and Hanukkah. And Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) finds out that his new girlfriend is "two-faced" -- that is, her looks alter radically depending upon the time of day, the lighting, and the location. (And speaking of location, wait till you see what the bagel place does to Elaine!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Purchasing the set of the old Merv Griffin Show, Kramer (Michael Richards) transforms his living room into a talk show -- but is it "Merv," or is it "Scandals and Animals?" (And yes, that's Wild Kingdom's Jim Fowler.) Meanwhile, Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is plagued at work by a "sidler" who causes her to create a coffee stain in the shape of Fidel Castro. George (Jason Alexander) can't seem to drive anywhere without running over a cute little animal. And Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) hopes to persuade his girlfriend to let him sample her rare toy collection. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
