Results: Comedian And Actor Jerry Stiller Will Be Missed
Published on 05/18/2020
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On Monday, May 11, the entertainment world lost a legend. 92-year-old Jerry Stiller's show-business career spanned more than half a century -- from the 1960s as part of a comedy team with his wife Anne Meara to acting in the 2016 film, "Zoolander 2," directed and co-written by his son Ben. But it was Stiller's cantankerous and ever-shouting Frank Costanza on "Seinfeld" that endeared him to his fans and co-actors. Do you remember Jerry Stiller?
Yes, primarily for Frank Costanza on Seinfeld
29%
730 votes
Yes, primarily for Artur Spooner on King Of Queens
16%
386 votes
Yes, for other television or movie roles
8%
193 votes
Yes, primarily for his act with wife Anne Meara
8%
205 votes
For all of the above
21%
518 votes
No
18%
451 votes
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Jerry Seinfeld fondly remembered Stiller as "perfect" in his comedic timing. Seinfeld said he never gave Stiller notes on how to perform, and never bothered to adjust his performance -- basically what he did (even when he went off-script, which was often) was perfect. And despite how perfect he was for the role, the role of Frank Costanza was not written for him or even to be that way. Originally George's dad was conceived as a milquetoast comedic foil to actress Estelle Harris, who was playing her character Estelle Costanza bigger than life. Instead Stiller delivered his lines in a totally different way. The result was big laughs and the birth of a character that led to a 1997 Emmy nomination for Stiller and a classic comedic role that solidified his legacy. Which classic Frank Costanza moments do you remember fondly (or feel free to add your missed favorite in the comments)?
Annoyed with the routine pandemonium and unchecked commercialism of Christmas, Frank took it upon himself to invent an alternative holiday. On one December 23rd, Festivus was born. Between a nondescript aluminum pole and brazenly contentious traditions like The Airing of Grievances, Festivus perfectly encapsulates Frank's chaotic demeanor and his commitment to every conviction he so obnoxiously holds.
23%
581 votes
In the show's final season, a self-help recording advises he adopt the mantra "serenity now" to curtail his blood pressure. It's a phrase rooted in composure and tranquility. Frank, of course, has difficulty with that part.
15%
374 votes
When George lines up an interview for a sales job at a bra manufacturer, Frank hands down some tips. He reminisces on the first time he encountered a bra, grills George on what material they're made from, and offers a refresher course on cup size. Just a very funny, uncomfortable scene.
16%
395 votes
While serving as an Army cook in the Korean War, he accidentally gave his fellow troops food poisoning after serving them expired meat. When Kramer taps his culinary expertise to assist in catering a singles night, Frank winds up succumbing to an admittedly hilarious PTSD flashback.
11%
265 votes
One of Seinfeld's funniest bits is the openly contemptuous relationship between Jerry's parents and George's parents. The Seinfelds "never cared for the Costanzas." Upon learning this, Frank elects to move to Del Boca Vista, the Seinfeld's retirement community in Florida, purely out of spite.
17%
416 votes
Over the show's eight-season run, Frank had a less than amicable rapport with his son's bosses. When George goes "missing" at work, his boss, Yankee's owner George Steinbrenner, breaks the news to his parents. Frank just wants to know why Steinbrenner traded Jay Buhner.
9%
232 votes
Frank pioneered a brassiere for men. He names it The Manssiere, although Kramer suggests calling it The Bro. The episode's funniest moment comes when his wife walks in on Kramer helping Frank into a prototype.
17%
427 votes
Frank often operates without rhyme or reason. When faced with divorce, he hired an attorney that wears a cape. Frank trusts him implicitly, but no further explanation of the cape is given.
8%
192 votes
When the time came for the Costanzas to meet the parents of George's fiancée, Susan, Frank makes good on his first impression by gifting them a lovely loaf of marble rye. Ultimately, he notices they neglected to serve it at dinner, and in a proficient display of pettiness, steals back the bread he bought.
12%
296 votes
I can't choose one!
24%
587 votes
None of these
17%
426 votes
Not familiar with the role
23%
567 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
16 votes
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Here is some more on the late Jerry Stiller. How many of these did you already know?
Gerald Isaac Stiller was born June 8, 1927, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Good genes are on his side; his father William, who worked as a New York City cab and bus driver, died in February 1999 at age 102.
4%
105 votes
Stiller fought in World War II. He received a bachelor's degree in Speech and Drama from Syracuse University in 1950.
6%
143 votes
Stiller and his wife, Anne Meara performed as a comedy duo for decades, appearing in nightclubs and on television programs like "The Ed Sullivan Show." They also briefly starred in their own sketch comedy show, "Take Five with Stiller and Meara."
26%
656 votes
n 2007, Stiller and Meara received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming only the fourth married couple to accept the honor.
9%
235 votes
After Seinfeld, he was cast as Arthur Spooner on "The King of Queens" at the insistence of the show's star, Kevin James. Anne Meara played Veronica Olchin, Spooner's love interest, and eventual wife.
22%
545 votes
Both of his children have careers in show business -- Ben Stiller and Amy Stiller
19%
479 votes
Jerry Stiller also wrote two books: Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us and his memoir, Married to Laughter: A Love Story Featuring Anne Meara.
5%
116 votes
All of them
9%
220 votes
None
35%
857 votes
Not familiar with him
12%
300 votes
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In 2014, a documentary called "When Comedy Went to School", paid homage to the great comedians of the latter half of the 20th century, familiar names like Sid Caesar, Jerry Lewis, Buddy Hackett, Mel Brooks, Jackie Mason and of courser, Jerry Stiller, who got their start in the Catskill Mountains resorts. This area was affectionately called the "Borscht Belt" and the comedians were almost all Jewish, heralding a bit of a new style of comedy. Here are a few of the famous jokes of this time. Do you find any of them funny?
I just got back from a pleasure trip. I took my mother-in-law to the airport.
16%
400 votes
What are three words a woman never wants to hear when she's making love? "Honey, I'm home!"
16%
392 votes
Someone stole all my credit cards but I won't be reporting it. The thief spends less than my wife did.
14%
352 votes
I've been in love with the same woman for 49 years! If my wife ever finds out, she'll kill me!
13%
330 votes
We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.
12%
296 votes
My wife and I went back to the hotel where we spent our wedding night; only this time I stayed in the bathroom and cried.
8%
205 votes
My wife and I went to a hotel where we got a waterbed. My wife called it the Dead Sea .
8%
196 votes
She was at the beauty shop for two hours. That was only for the estimate. She got a mudpack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.
9%
223 votes
The Doctor gave a man six months to live. The man couldn't pay his bill so the doctor gave him another six months.
12%
288 votes
The Doctor called Mrs. Cohen saying, "Mrs. Cohen, your cheque came back." Mrs. Cohen answered, "So did my arthritis!"
9%
219 votes
Doctor:"You'll live to be 60!" Patient: "I am 60!" Doctor: "See! What did I tell you?"
9%
224 votes
Patient: "I have a ringing in my ears." Doctor:"Don't answer!"
9%
222 votes
A drunk was in front of a judge. The judge says, "You've been brought here for drinking." The drunk says "Okay, let's get started."
13%
317 votes
Oh don't make me choose!
30%
733 votes
None
35%
860 votes
There is a big controversy on the Jewish view of when life begins. In Jewish tradition, the foetus is not considered viable until it graduates from medical school.
7%
169 votes
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