Stiller crazy after all these years

Jerry Stiller, well known for his role as Frank Costanza on "Seinfeld," tells how he met his wife, playwright Anne Meara, in 1953.

Published February 2, 2001 9:00AM (EST)

Jerry Stiller was born in New York in 1927. He and his wife, comedian and playwright Anne Meara, began performing together in the 1960s. The pair played every major nightclub in the country and appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" more than 35 times. He has also appeared in the Broadway productions of "Hurlyburly" and "The Ritz" as well as numerous films, including "Hairspray" and "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three."

Younger audiences know Jerry Stiller as Frank Costanza, father of George Costanza on the enormously popular TV show "Seinfeld." The role won him an Emmy nomination and an American Comedy Award.

In this excerpt from his autobiography, "Married to Laughter" from Bantam Doubleday Dell, Stiller recalls how he met his wife on a casting call.


By Salon Staff

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