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Benjamin Stiller (born '', '' Meet The Parents '', and its sequel, '' Meet The Fockers ''. BIOGRAPHY Stiller grew up in Manhattan , the second child of his famous comedy parents, who frequently took him on the sets of their appearances. He displayed an early interest in film making, making Super 8 movies with his sister and friends. At ten years old, he made his acting debut as a guest on his mother's series ''Kate McShane''. In 1983, he enrolled as a film student at the University Of California, Los Angeles . Stiller lasted nine months before dropping out to relocate back to New York City as he made his way through acting classes, auditioning and trying to find an agent. He landed a role in the Broadway revival of John Guare 's ''The House of Blue Leaves'', alongside John Mahoney , a play which later garnered four Tonys . During its run, Stiller produced a satirical Mockumentary whose principal was fellow actor Mahoney. His comedic work was so well received that he followed up with a 10 minute short called "The Hustler of Money," a parody of the Martin Scorsese film '' The Color Of Money '' featuring him in a send-up of Tom Cruise 's Vince character and Mahoney in the Paul Newman role-- only this time as a Bowling hustler instead of a Pool Shark . The short got the attention of Saturday Night Live , which aired it in 1987, and two years later offered him a spot as a writer. In 1989, Stiller wrote and appeared on a season of '' Saturday Night Live '' as a featured performer. He was offered his own vehicle on MTV as host and performer in a self-titled comedy sketch show, which led to '' The Ben Stiller Show '' on the Fox Network in 1992 . The show lasted 12 episodes on FOX-- with a thirteenth unaired episode broadcast by Comedy Central in a later revival. Throughout its short run, the Ben Stiller Show frequently appeared at the bottom of the ratings, even as it garnered critical acclaim, eventually winning the Emmy for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program" after it was cancelled. The show also starred (and launched the careers of) his frequent collaborators Andy Dick , Janeane Garofalo , and Bob Odenkirk . ]] Stiller directed both '' Reality Bites '' and '' The Cable Guy '', to generally mixed reviews. Stiller put aside his directing ambitions to star in '' There's Something About Mary '', which launched Stiller's career into the stratosphere. Another directorial effort, 2001's '' Zoolander '' was well-received, showing he could be a bankable star both behind the camera as well as in front of it. In the parody Self-help book they co-authored, ''Feel This Book'', he and frequent co-star Janeane Garofalo wrote about, as they put it, their "train wreck of a relationship", but it was done with a tongue-in-cheek style. During much of the 1990s , he was involved with actress Jeanne Tripplehorn . Although Stiller is best known for his film roles, in recent years he has made notable cameos in groundbreaking shows such as '''' he took on the role of "Tony Wonder," a bumbling magician. Among his film credits include a tyrannical nursing home employee in '' Happy Gilmore '', an evil fitness instructor named Tony Perkis in '' Heavyweights '', a put upon attorney in '' Zero Effect '' and a second rate superhero in '' Mystery Men ''. PERSONAL In May 2000 , Stiller married Christine Taylor , whom he met while filming a never-broadcast television pilot for the FOX network called '' Heat Vision And Jack '', starring Jack Black . He and Taylor have a daughter, Ella Olivia, born April 10 , 2002 , and a son, Quinlin Dempsey, born July 10 , 2005 . Amy Stiller , his older sister, is also an actress. Princeton University 's Class of 2005 inducted Stiller as an honorary member of the class during its "Senior Week" in April 2005. In 2005, Stiller admitted to having Bipolar Disorder , an illness he says runs in his family {Link without Title} . FILMOGRAPHY TRIVIA
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