History of Ben Stiller in Timeline
Ben Stiller is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker renowned for his comedic roles. He gained prominence through films like "There's Something About Mary," "Zoolander," and "Tropic Thunder," showcasing his blend of slapstick and wit. Stiller is also recognized for his involvement in successful franchises, including "Meet the Parents," "Madagascar," and "Night at the Museum." His films have grossed over $2.6 billion, averaging $79 million per film. He has received accolades such as an Emmy Award and a Directors Guild of America Award, solidifying his impact on the entertainment industry.
1987: Conceived Tropic Thunder
In 1987, Ben Stiller originally conceived the premise for the film Tropic Thunder while filming Empire of the Sun.
1990: Dated Jeanne Tripplehorn
In 1990, Ben Stiller dated Jeanne Tripplehorn.
1996: Ended Relationship with Jeanne Tripplehorn
Ben Stiller and Jeanne Tripplehorn ended their relationship in 1996, after dating since 1990.
1999: Co-wrote Feel This Book
In 1999, Ben Stiller co-wrote a comedic New York Times bestseller with Janeane Garofalo, titled Feel This Book: An Essential Guide to Self-Empowerment, Spiritual Supremacy, and Sexual Satisfaction, a spoof of the self-help books prevalent at the time.
1999: Met Christine Taylor
In 1999, Ben Stiller met Christine Taylor while filming a never-broadcast television pilot for Fox called Heat Vision and Jack.
1999: Joke about mental health during GQ interview
In 1999, there was a false report about Ben Stiller's mental health based on a joke he made during a 1999 GQ interview.
May 2000: Married Christine Taylor
In May 2000, Ben Stiller married actress Christine Taylor at an oceanfront ceremony in Kauai, Hawaii.
2001: Appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
In 2001, Ben Stiller appeared as a celebrity contestant on the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. He won $32,000 for his charity Project ALS, after incorrectly answering his $250,000 question.
2002: Birth of Ella Olivia
In 2002, Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor had a daughter, Ella Olivia.
2004: Supported John Kerry's presidential campaign
In 2004, Ben Stiller supported the Democratic Party and donated money to John Kerry's U.S. presidential campaign.
April 2005: Honorary Member of Princeton University's Class of 2005
During its "Senior Week" in April 2005, Princeton University's Class of 2005 inducted Ben Stiller as an honorary member of the class.
2005: Birth of Quinlin "Quinn" Dempsey
In 2005, Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor had a son, Quinlin "Quinn" Dempsey.
February 2007: Attended a fundraiser for Barack Obama
In February 2007, Ben Stiller attended a fundraiser for Barack Obama.
February 23, 2007: Hasty Pudding Man of the Year Award
On February 23, 2007, Ben Stiller received the Hasty Pudding Man of the Year award from Harvard's Hasty Pudding Theatricals. According to the organization, the award is given to performers who give a lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment.
March 31, 2007: Wannabe Award at the Kids' Choice Awards
On March 31, 2007, Ben Stiller received the "Wannabe Award" at the Kids' Choice Awards. The award is given to a celebrity whom children "want to be" like.
2008: Directed and starred in Tropic Thunder
In 2008, Ben Stiller directed, co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in the film Tropic Thunder, with Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black.
2008: Donated to presidential campaigns
In 2008, Ben Stiller donated to the U.S. presidential campaigns of Barack Obama, John Edwards, and Hillary Clinton.
2008: Rejects "Frat Pack" Label
In a 2008 interview, Ben Stiller rejected the "Frat Pack" label, stating that the concept was "completely fabricated".
2009: MTV Generation Award
In 2009, Ben Stiller received the MTV Movie Awards' MTV Generation Award, the ceremony's top honor.
2009: Starred in Night at the Museum 2
In 2009, Ben Stiller starred with Amy Adams in Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian, which is a sequel to Night at the Museum.
2010: Cameo in I'm Still Here and lead role in Greenberg
In 2010, Ben Stiller made a brief cameo in Joaquin Phoenix's mockumentary I'm Still Here and played the lead role in the comedy-drama Greenberg.
2011: Clarified mental health in interview
In 2011, Ben Stiller clarified in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he does not have bipolar disorder. He mentioned that his original comment was taken out of context and mistakenly presented as factual by the reporter.
2011: Starred in Tower Heist
In 2011, Ben Stiller starred with Eddie Murphy and Alan Alda in Tower Heist, about a group of maintenance workers planning a heist in a residential skyscraper.
2011: BAFTA Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy
In 2011, Ben Stiller was awarded the BAFTA Britannia – Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy by BAFTA Los Angeles.
2013: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Release
In 2013, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, which was produced, directed, and starred by Ben Stiller, was released.
June 2014: Diagnosed with prostate cancer
In June 2014, Ben Stiller was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
September 2014: Declared cancer-free
In September 2014, Ben Stiller was declared cancer-free following the surgical removal of his prostate.
2014: Saturn Awards Nomination
In 2014, Ben Stiller was nominated for Best Actor at the 40th Saturn Awards for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
February 6, 2016: Guinness World Record for longest selfie stick
On February 6, 2016, Ben Stiller set the Guinness World Record for the longest selfie stick (8.56 meters) at the World Premiere of Zoolander 2.
2016: Starred in Zoolander 2
In 2016, Ben Stiller starred in and directed Zoolander 2, which was a critical failure.
2017: Separated from Christine Taylor
After 17 years of marriage, Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor separated in 2017.
July 2, 2018: Appointed Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR
On July 2, 2018, Ben Stiller was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR.
2018: Further clarification in mental health interview
In 2018, Ben Stiller further clarified in an interview with The Times that he does not have bipolar disorder. He mentioned that his original comment was taken out of context and mistakenly presented as factual by the reporter.
2018: Played Michael Cohen on Saturday Night Live
In 2018, Ben Stiller played Michael Cohen on Saturday Night Live for six episodes.
February 2, 2019: Directors Guild of America Award
On February 2, 2019, Ben Stiller won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series for his miniseries, Escape at Dannemora.
2019: Played Michael Cohen on Saturday Night Live
In 2019, Ben Stiller continued playing Michael Cohen on Saturday Night Live for six episodes.
2021: Signed on to co-write and direct Bag Man
In 2021, Ben Stiller signed on to co-write and direct Bag Man, a Focus Features adaptation of the 2018 podcast about the kickback scandal that led to the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew.
June 2022: Visited Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv
In June 2022, Ben Stiller visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv to bring attention to the humanitarian need of refugees in Poland and Ukraine.
2022: Severance Premieres
In 2022, Ben Stiller executive produces and directs many episodes of the Apple TV+ series Severance, which premiered this year.
October 2023: Bag Man in pre-production
As of October 2023, the movie Bag Man remained in pre-production.
May 24, 2024: Ella Stiller's graduation from Juilliard School
On May 24, 2024, Ella Olivia Stiller graduated from the Juilliard School in New York City, New York with a degree in acting.
December 2024: Featured in SZA's Music Video Trailer
In December 2024, Ben Stiller was featured in a music video trailer for singer SZA's new album Lana, singing her song "Drive".
2024: Supported Kamala Harris in the election
Ben Stiller supported vice president Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
2024: Spoke out on the Gaza war in Time magazine
In 2024, Ben Stiller spoke out about his opinions on the Gaza war on a Time magazine article. In the article, Stiller speaks about his Polish and Jewish heritage, and advocates for a two state solution by explaining his solidarity with both the Israeli and Palestinian citizens, as well as criticizing the Israeli government and Hamas.
July 25, 2025: Happy Gilmore 2 Premieres
On July 25, 2025, Ben Stiller reprised his role as Hal L. in Happy Gilmore 2, a sequel to Happy Gilmore that premiered on this day.
September 2025: Launched Stiller's Soda Brand
In September 2025, Ben Stiller launched a soda brand named Stiller's Soda which is available in New York City currently.
November 2025: Filming scheduled for Bag Man
The filming for Bag Man was scheduled to start in Washington, DC and Budapest in November 2025.
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