Ben Stiller, 59, has been reflecting on the darker side of fame after growing up in a family of Hollywood stars. The 'Zoolander' star shared his thoughts with Howard Stern about his childhood, revealing that witnessing the stress and effects on relationships firsthand made him question whether he wanted to pursue a career in show business.
Stiller's parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, were beloved comedy legends who went on to become sitcom regulars. However, their success offered Stiller an unfiltered look at the highs and lows of Hollywood life as a child. His new documentary 'Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost' delves into his parents' partnership and how it shaped his own sense of humor and ambition.
When asked about the toughest part of being a child in the public eye, Stiller acknowledged that seeing the negative effects of fame on people's lives made him appreciate its importance even more. "Growing up around it — we talk about all those things I saw with my parents — you actually, as a kid, see the dark underside of it," he said.
Despite witnessing these struggles firsthand, Stiller never doubted his passion for show business and has since become one of Hollywood's most successful actors and filmmakers. However, there was one decision that still haunts him – cutting his daughter Ella out of his 2013 film 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty', which he both directed and starred in.
For Stiller, this decision carries more weight than just a creative choice, as it relates to his own issues with perfectionism and obsession with his work. He admitted that cutting his daughter out was probably the worst decision he's ever made, but Ella has since understood why it happened creatively.
Stiller's documentary provides an intimate look at his parents' journey in comedy and how their partnership helped shape his career. The actor seems to be reflecting on both his family legacy and his own successes with a newfound appreciation for the importance of relationships and family outside of the spotlight.
Stiller's parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, were beloved comedy legends who went on to become sitcom regulars. However, their success offered Stiller an unfiltered look at the highs and lows of Hollywood life as a child. His new documentary 'Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost' delves into his parents' partnership and how it shaped his own sense of humor and ambition.
When asked about the toughest part of being a child in the public eye, Stiller acknowledged that seeing the negative effects of fame on people's lives made him appreciate its importance even more. "Growing up around it — we talk about all those things I saw with my parents — you actually, as a kid, see the dark underside of it," he said.
Despite witnessing these struggles firsthand, Stiller never doubted his passion for show business and has since become one of Hollywood's most successful actors and filmmakers. However, there was one decision that still haunts him – cutting his daughter Ella out of his 2013 film 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty', which he both directed and starred in.
For Stiller, this decision carries more weight than just a creative choice, as it relates to his own issues with perfectionism and obsession with his work. He admitted that cutting his daughter out was probably the worst decision he's ever made, but Ella has since understood why it happened creatively.
Stiller's documentary provides an intimate look at his parents' journey in comedy and how their partnership helped shape his career. The actor seems to be reflecting on both his family legacy and his own successes with a newfound appreciation for the importance of relationships and family outside of the spotlight.
, I mean its like, you're her dad and you get to choose her or not, right? But at the same time, I can see how that decision would be super tough for him especially with perfectionism being a major part of his life. His parents' partnership is actually really inspiring, I love how they supported each other in comedy 
, it's like they were two peas in a pod. It's good to hear Ben reflecting on the importance of relationships outside of the spotlight, that's something we can all relate to 
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. I mean, can you even imagine growing up in that bubble? His parents were hilarious, but also super high-strung, I bet it was tough to navigate all the drama as a kid 
. But for real, cutting Ella out of that movie is a major regret, I wouldn't wish that on anyone 
. It's great he's reflecting on his childhood and family legacy now though - maybe this doc will help him find some closure? 
, can you even believe Ben Stiller is sharing all this from behind the scenes? I mean, growing up in Hollywood, witnessing the highs & lows must've been super tough on him as a kid 
! And I love how he's speaking about his daughter Ella now - cutting her out of 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' must've been a hard choice for him, but I'm so glad they're cool again 
. I mean, who hasn't felt pressure to keep their personal life separate from their work? But at the same time, it's not always easy to balance creative passion with family relationships 
. It's interesting that he's reflecting on this now and trying to make amends in a way that works for everyone involved 
. I hope his daughter Ella is doing okay after being left out of that film 
. I mean, come on, cutting your own daughter out of a film? That's some messed up stuff right there. And don't even get me started on how weird it is that he thinks his perfectionism and work obsession are legit reasons for making such a drastic decision 
I think what really stands out here is Ben's realization that fame isn't all glamour and fun, but also has its darker side 
. Growing up in a household where everyone was under the microscope, he learned to appreciate the importance of relationships and family outside of the spotlight 
. But Ben's story shows us that even with all the stress and pressure, we can still find our way back to what truly makes us happy 
. i mean, who needs their kid in a movie when you've got a reputation to uphold? his documentary is like, super relatable tbh... except for the part where he's basically admitting that being famous is all about playing with people's emotions 
. The part about cutting his daughter out of the movie though... 
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. Maybe this doc is more than just a family drama – maybe it's also a cautionary tale about the dangers of putting work above all else 
. Stiller seems to be learning from his mistakes, and that's what makes me curious to watch this doc 
I mean, who wouldn't wanna be 'Zoolander' 
? But it's awesome that he's now reflectin' on his childhood and appreciatin' the importance of relationships & family outside the spotlight 
. I mean, who hasn't seen the stress and effects on relationships firsthand? It makes sense that he'd question whether he wanted to pursue show business 
. And it sounds like he's really reflecting on what went wrong with that film 
, like cutting out his daughter Ella - that must've been a tough choice 
. It makes him more relatable and human 
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. His parents were legends in their own right, but you can't help but wonder if being in the public eye affected Ella's life when she was younger too... I hope she's doing okay 
. It's great to see him reflecting on this now, maybe it'll help him make better choices in the future 
I can see why it weighs on him, though. Perfectionism can be a real killer, especially when it comes to your relationships. Kudos to him for owning up to it and having an honest conversation with his daughter about it. And at the end of the day, it's clear he's learned from that experience and is now more appreciative of the importance of family outside of the spotlight 