Admirers of celebrated actor Ben Stiller are only now discovering the remarkable length of his career as he marks a significant birthday today (November 30).

The American star, who has recently focused more on directing than performing, became a household name through The Ben Stiller Show and comedy films such as Meet the Parents.

Supporters have just realised that Stiller, who reaches 60 today, has been working in entertainment for an impressive five decades. Discussing this extraordinary achievement on Reddit, one fan revealed: “Ben Stiller has been acting for five decades, longer than Benedict Cumberbatch has been alive.

“Ben Stiller, born 1965, first acted in 1975 in a television program called ‘Kate McShane. Benedict Cumberbatch was born in 1976”.

She also posted a Wikipedia screenshot which states: “At age 9, Stiller made his acting debut as a guest on his mother’s short-lived television series ‘Kate McShane’.

“In the late 1970s, he performed with the New York City troupe NYC’s First All Children’s Theatre, playing several roles, including the title role in ‘Clever Jack and the Magic Beanstalk’.”

In the responses, another user commented: “Being a nepo baby with talent gave Ben Stiller’s career a push”.

A nepo baby refers to somebody who has achieved fame due to their parents’ celebrity status, without necessarily possessing their own credentials for stardom. This explains why the Redditor emphasised that Ben genuinely possesses talent.

Ben’s parents are Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. Stiller and Meara were a husband-and-wife comedy duo who rose to prominence during the 1960s and 1970s.

Anne Meara tragically died in 2015, with Jerry following five years afterwards.

However, during their peak years, the pair became renowned for their sharp, down-to-earth comedy about married life and daily experiences, which resonated strongly with audiences.

Jerry Stiller subsequently gained widespread fame for his television performances, particularly as Frank Costanza on Seinfeld and Arthur Spooner on The King of Queens.

Anne Meara enjoyed a distinguished career across television, cinema, and stage, featuring in programmes like Archie Bunker’s Place and films including Fame and Awakenings.

Both as a partnership and individually, Stiller and Meara earned affection for their impeccable comic delivery, natural rapport, and lasting impact on American show business. Naturally, they’re also celebrated for raising the comedic talent Ben Stiller.

Indeed, on Reddit, another user commented: “His parents were Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, two comedians and already movie actors, so it wasn’t hard to get Ben into the family business. Jerry was in the original Taking of Pelham 123, and Anne was in The Out of Towners from 1970”.

After Stiller made his acting debut at9, he then kick-started his career by writing mockumentaries when he was older.

This led to him being offered a variety sketch series, The Ben Stiller Show, which he produced and hosted for its 13-episode run. The show aired on MTV in 1990, and on Fox in 1992 and 1993, earning him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Programme.

Stiller was part of a group of comedic actors informally known as the Frat Pack.

He transitioned into film acting, making his directorial debut with Reality Bites (1994) and went on to direct and star in films such as The Cable Guy (1996), and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013). He also starred in a number of big studio comedies, including Along Came Polly (2004), Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004), Starsky and Hutch (2004), and Tower Heist (2011).

In addition to Meet the Parents, Stiller has also starred in comedies such as Zoolander (2001), and Tropic Thunder (2008). His further film credits include the Madagascar franchise (2005–2012), and the Night at the Museum films (2006–2014), with his films having grossed more than $2.6 billion (£2million) in Canada and the United States, with an average of $79 million (£60million) per film.

In 2026, the actor is set to star in a Meet the Fockers sequel, titled Focker In-Law, which will also see Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, and Teri Polo reprise their roles.