New York, November 12, 2008 – “I gave him no pearls of wisdom.  He grew up and is fine despite me,” Anne Meara told us at the Museum of the Moving Image tribute to her son, Ben Stiller.   Dad Jerry Stiller put aside the jokes for the evening.  “I’m just so proud of everything he does,” papa said.  And Ben does do it all, but the writer/actor/producer/director said that directing is his first love.  “That was what I always wanted to do since I was a kid.” Stiller told us.

Night at the Museum 2 star Amy Adams said that though Stiller is serious on the set, his funny side can be distracting.  “We had some amazing comedians on set, and to see Ben and Bill Hader do their impersonation of our director definitely made it hard for me to focus,” she said, laughing at the memory. 

The speeches during the tribute were less complimentary, but all in good fun.  “Ben Stiller.  The name conjures up so many images.  Director.  Actor.  Writer.  Jew. Simian.  And of course, midget,” said Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.  And Stiller’s Meet the Parents co-star Robert De Niro gave this heartfelt salute: “Ben, it’s no exaggeration to say that you’re the greatest comic actor of our time.  Now let me just say for those of you who remember my saying the same thing at tributes for Robin Williams, Steve Martin, Billy Crystal, Tom Hanks and Jim Carrey; this time I really mean it.”