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- 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
Subways provide the common setting for this modern anthology comprised of distinct vignettes made by ten of Hollywood's top directors and featuring some of Tinseltown's most popular actors. The episodes are based on real stories submitted by scores of subway regulars. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rosie Perez, Mercedes Ruehl, (more)
A group of ten men come together for a bachelor party that goes horribly wrong in this made-for-TV drama. Mario Van Peebles and John Stockwell star as old friends Michael and Victor, both of them successful, well-off young professionals. The latter is about to be married, so Michael throws him a lavish party complete with booze, drugs, a pair of stripper sisters and some old friends that Michael would actually rather not see, including Pete (Andrew McCarthy), a street-smart drug dealer. When one of the girls is accidentally killed and her handler is shot in the ensuing confusion, the group of men reacts in completely different ways. Timan (John Henson) becomes completely unraveled, while others like Pete and Daniel (Kevin Dillon) keep their cool and try to come up with a viable plan to handle their new "problem." A next door neighbor (Jerry Stiller) who comes over to investigate the noise only compounds the problem. Stag bore almost precisely the same plot as Very Bad Things (1998), a more comic take on the story that was released theatrically one year later. The surviving stripper was played by former pop music star Taylor Dayne. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andrew McCarthy, John Stockwell, (more)
- 1997
- PG
This comedic look at a Jewish summer camp in the 1950's stars Jason Biggs, Jerry Stiller, and Elliot Gould. For one small group of people, immigrant culture eventually finds its place among the tensions rumbling between sexes, generations, and cultures. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerry Stiller, Zachary Taylor, (more)
- 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
- 1997
Kramer (Michael Richards) plots a horrible revenge on the mail-order company that has been deluging him with catalogues. Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) gets a car from his old pal "Fragile" Frankie (Dana Gould), but not the car he wanted; however, the vehicle falls right into place with Kramer's sinister scheme. George (Jason Alexander) is traumatized when he places his weekly phone call to his parents. And Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is smitten by a fellow she meets at the diner -- but can her new dream lover "handle the workload?" ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
A "deadbeat dad" is found murdered in a hotel room. The suspects include the victim's embittered father-in-law Max Schaffer (Val Avery) and two women in the dead man's life. Ultimately the prosecution of the case boils down to jury sympathy for a long-suffering and arguably justified perpetrator -- not to mention a terminal leukemia patient. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) finds several bags of Newman's mail in his storage lockup. Kramer (Michael Richards) uses a sick dog to get free cold medication for himself -- and ends up exhibiting a number of disturbing doglike tendencies (he even tries to "tell us something," Lassie style!) George (Jason Alexander) schemes to wrest a choice apartment away from a survivor of the 1956 Andrea Doria disaster. And Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) loses her latest boyfriend because she has a "big head." (And don't forget the fork in the forehead). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
There's only one way to describe the dancing talents of Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus): "Sweet Fancy Moses!" In other developments, Kramer (Michael Richards) is inveigled into making a bootleg tape of a first-run movie, but it is Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) who contributes those little auterist touches. And George (Jason Alexander) suddenly becomes irresistible to a woman named Anna (Rebecca McFarland) -- and all because Elaine has labeled him a "bad seed." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) is impressed by the fact that his current girlfriend has a mentor -- but less than impressed when he discovers that the mentor is none other than his comedy bête noire Kenny Bania (Steve Hytner). Unable to fire an employee, Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) lives to regret her moment of weakness. Kramer (Michael Richards) organizes the first Jewish Singles Night at Newman's Knights of Columbus Hall, relying upon George's father, Frank (Jerry Stiller), for cooking advice. And George (Jason Alexander) pretends to be blind to get free books on tape. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Camp Hope is a summer camp for fat kids; it is also the locale of this Disney family comedy. All of the kids at Camp Hope have a weight problem. It is the one place they can go without feeling different. But when the previous owners declare bankruptcy, the camp is purchased by an obnoxious fitness freak who becomes obsessed with changing his chubby charges into budding body builders. He immediately begins serving them low calorie foods and subjecting them to rigorous exercises. Part of his motivation is greed: he is in the process of writing a book, and filming an infomercial on weight loss. The boys at camp rebel and mayhem ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom McGowan, Aaron Schwartz, (more)
- 1995
When an aging convicted murderer is slated to be executed after 16 years on death row, the condemned man's daughter takes Col. Barnfather (Clayton LeBouef) hostage, demanding that her father's case be reopened. While Bolander (Ned Beatty) races against time to find any shred of evidence that might free the death-row prisoner, Giardello (Yaphet Kotto) and Russert (Isabella Hoffman) try to forget their differences long enough to defuse the hostage crisis. And on a lighter note, new tavern owner Munch (Richard Belzer) may be talked into investing in a microbrewery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Baldwin, Ned Beatty, (more)
Paul Mazursky directed this comedy, which blends a broad satire of the film industry with a thoughtful tale of a middle-aged man looking back on his life's failures. Harry Stone (Danny Aiello) is a film director who desperately needs a hit -- so desperately that he gets talked into directing an inane sci-fi film about a group of farm kids (led by Ally Sheedy) who grow an enormous pickle that they turn into a spaceship, allowing them to visit the planet Cleveland (ruled by Little Richard and his right hand man, Griffin Dunne) where everyone eats nothing but meat. Convinced that the film will flop, Harry is in a state of panic as he returns to New York with his Parisian girlfriend Francoise (Clotilde Courau), a mere 20 years his junior, and visits his ex-wife Ellen (Dyan Cannon); his mother Yetta (Shelley Winters); and his son Gregory (Chris Penn). Meanwhile Harry flashes back on his childhood and the film he could have made of it, and pitches his dream film (a historical epic about the life of Montezuma) to studio executives, who instead want him to make a movie kids can relate to. The Pickle was filmed in 1991, but only received a token theatrical release two years later. Actually, the sci-fi story with Little Richard as the undisputed ruler of Cleveland looks like it might have been an ideal vehicle for Edward D. Wood Jr.. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danny Aiello, Dyan Cannon, (more)
- 1992
A Jewish jeweler is murdered and his body is burned. Early evidence suggests that the killing may have been motivated by the anti-Semitism of four black youths. But the detectives and the DA's office uncover proof that the murder was committed for an entirely different, but equally odious, motivation -- and that the murderer was not entirely unknown to the victim. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
- R
This semi-spoof of the Orpheus legend stars Chad Lowe and Kristy Swanson as newlyweds whose car is pulled over by Beezelbub (Patrick Bergin), who kidnaps the girl and takes her to Hell. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Bergin, Chad Lowe, (more)
- 1991
Shalom Sesame: Aleph-Bet Telethon -- Discovering the Hebrew Letters is the ninth episode in the Muppets special edition series, Shalom Sesame, an educational journey through ancient and modern Israel. Kids meet old and new Muppet friends on Rechov Sumsum, the Israeli version of Sesame Street, including Grover, Cookie Monster, Moishe Oofnick the grouch, and Kippy ben Kipod, a large porcupine. In episode nine, there's a puzzle to be solved, as all the letters have disappeared from Rechov Sumsum, so Jerry Stiller and Kippy ben Kipod decide to host a telethon. Nell Carter, Joan Rivers, Jeremy Miller, Tracey Gold, and Itzhak Perlman help make the telethon a success. The tape teaches a great lesson in the Hebrew alphabet. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Women and Men 2 is the second installment of HBO's short-story anthology series. In the first episode, Carson McCuller's "A Domestic Dilemma," Ray Liotta plays a husband who has to cut back on his work in order to care for his children, since his alcoholic wife (Andie MacDowell) cannot be trusted. In Irwin Shaw's "Return to Kansas City," a boxer (Matt Dillon) is unwilling to take risks in order to win love. In Henry Miller's "Mara," Scott Glenn plays Miller in a story about his love for a Parisian prostitute. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
