Comedy legend and beloved icon Jerry Stiller passed away on May 11th, 2020, at the age of 92. His son, actor and director Ben Stiller, was the one who broke the news in a heartbreaking tweet. In an interview with The New Yorker, Ben has opened up about his relationship with and the final days of his father.
Getty Images | Charles Eshelman
Ben Stiller Opens Up About Emotional Final Days With His Father Jerry: He Was Funny 'Until The End'
Ben revealed that both he and his sister Amy were able to be with Jerry during his final days.
Twitter | @RedHourBen
"My sister and I were able to be with him. And, just due to the fact that he didn’t have a coronavirus-related illness, and he had been ailing for a while, we were able to be with him, which I’m very, very grateful for," Ben said.
"He was just slowing down a lot, and he was dealing with a lot of issues. And so the last week or two were tougher for him," Ben said.
YouTube | Conan O'Brien
"But he went peacefully, and he had a sense of humor, for sure, until the end. I hesitate to call it a sense of humor. He was just funny, and so he was always himself."
Ben also reflected on the first time his father saw him perform at a camp he was attending as a kid.
YouTube | TV Land
Ben explained that his father had come up because Ben was homesick. "He’s a very sensitive guy, a very loving dad," Ben explained. "My mom would be kind of like, 'No, Jerry, he’s got to figure out how to be on his own.' And my dad was, like, 'No, I want to go up there and be with him.'"
"I remember him watching the play. And I sang some song in it, and I remember him having this big smile."
YouTube | TV Land
"It wasn’t a laugh, but it was him just appreciating seeing his kid performing. I think he just loved seeing his kids act, and do their thing."
What a sweet story. You can read the entire interview here.
Our thoughts are with the Stiller family in this tough time.
Filed Under:
Most Popular
