Ben Stiller Donates Parents' Comedy Archives to National Center

Ben Stiller has donated the extensive career archives of his parents, legendary comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, to the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York. The archive spans over 50 years and includes tens of thousands of pages of material, such as early improv sessions, love letters, handwritten sketch drafts, and memorabilia from iconic shows like "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Tonight Show." This donation coincides with the release of Stiller's documentary, "Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost," which chronicles his parents' personal and professional lives and their impact on comedy. The National Comedy Center highlights the duo's groundbreaking work that combined humor with social commentary on cultural differences, interfaith dating, gender equity, and relationship roles. Ben Stiller expressed that preserving his parents' body of work at the Center is a gift not only to his family but also to anyone interested in understanding comedy as a creative process. The archive joins other significant comedy collections at the Center, ensuring Stiller and Meara's legacy will inspire and educate future generations.