Ben Stiller appeared on The Tonight Show to share some of his most hilarious and sweet memories following the death of his father, Jerry Stiller, age 92.
Stiller and Fallon both commented on how despite being known as boisterous onscreen, he "couldn't be more opposite in real life." “He is quiet and suppressed a lot,” Stiller noted "his upbringing was very, very poor. His dad was a bus driver in depression-era New York City, that's where it would come out, in the characters."
Stiller starts off by addressing that “it’s a weird time” and wanted to come on the show to celebrate his father. During the interview, Stiller talks warmly about his parents when all three appeared on an episode of the Tonight show years ago to play a game of charades “they were such a unit together, with amazing chemistry” Stiller says of his father, "He wasn't really trying to be funny, He wouldn't go for a laugh. He'd just be himself."
Stiller recalls growing up in 70’s New York City, his bike being stolen when he was 11 or 12 years old and his father running after a kid 3 or 4 blocks to get it back. After catching up with the kid and having a chat, his father returns without the bike saying "We're gonna let him keep the bike. He needs it. I’ll go get you another one."
Stiller shares how he called his father after taking LSD for the first time when he was 16. "He started talking me down, even though he knew nothing about drugs," Stiller said. "He said, 'I know what you're feeling. When I was 10 years old, I smoked a Pall Mall cigarette and I was sick for two days. I said, 'No this is different.'"
Rest in peace Jerry Stiller.
Watch the beautiful tribute below.
