Jerry Stiller dead: 'Seinfeld' costars pay tribute

May 11, 2020 8:36 AM PT

Hollywood offered its love and condolences to Ben Stiller on Monday after the actor announced the death of his father, veteran actor-comedian and “Seinfeld” stalwart Jerry Stiller.

Both “Seinfeld” and “King of Queens” alumni honored Jerry Stiller on social media, paying tribute to their “lovely,” “funny” and “beloved” former costar, who died of natural causes at age 92.

“Such sad news that my beloved friend, Jerry Stiller, has passed,” wrote Jason Alexander, who played Stiller’s TV son, George Costanza, on “Seinfeld.” “He was perhaps the kindest man I ever had the honor to work beside. He made me laugh when I was a child and every day I was with him. A great actor, a great man, a lovely friend. #RIPJerryStiller I Love you.”

Jerry Seinfeld saluted the TV icon simply by sharing a photo of himself holding the comedy album “Ed Sullivan Presents the Last Two People in the World,” by Jerry Stiller and his late wife, comic Anne Meara.

“Jerry Stiller’s comedy will live forever,” he added in a follow-up tweet.

In wake of Stiller’s death, blooper footage of him causing Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus to break down in laughter while delivering his lines as the perpetually grumpy Frank Costanza has gone viral. And Louis-Dreyfus, a.k.a. Elaine, cited the video as just one example of the joy Stiller brought to set.

“The truth is that this happened all the time with Jerry Stiller,” she said, sharing the clip. “He was so funny and such a dear human being. We loved him.”

On Instagram, Stiller was mourned by actors Leah Remini and Kevin James, who played Stiller’s daughter and son-in-law, respectively, on “The King of Queens.”

“I was lucky enough to work with Jerry Stiller, playing his daughter for 9 years on The King Of Queens, but even luckier to know him, the man, the husband, the father, the grandfather,” Remini wrote. “I am only comforted knowing that Anne & Jerry, the great comedy duo of Stiller & Meara are back together. I will be forever grateful for the memories, the fatherly talks off screen and for the many years of laughter, the kindness he had shown to me and my family... You will be so very missed Jerry.”

“One of the most kind, loving, and funny people to ever grace this earth,” James added. “Thank you for so many incredible memories. I love you and miss you. Requiescat in pace.”

Others, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ricky Gervais, Jeffrey Wright, Jon Cryer and Josh Gad, offered their condolences to Ben Stiller on social media.

“Sending you love, Ben,” “Hamilton” mastermind Miranda wrote in response to Ben Stiller’s tweet. “What a giant. So grateful for him, and Anne [Meara], and you.”

“Frozen” star Gad celebrated one of Stiller’s most enduring “Seinfeld” contributions: “Festivus,” the anti-holiday coined by author Dan O’Keefe and observed each year by devoted fans of the ‘90s sitcom to this day.

“My heart goes out to [Ben Stiller] & his entire family on this very difficult loss,” Gad tweeted. “Thank you Jerry for your brilliant comedic prowess. There was nobody who quite turned a phrase like #JerryStiller & few who got to create a holiday iconically linked to them. Happy eternal Festivus.”

And several, like “Westworld” actor Wright, saluted Stiller’s off-screen presence, as well as his on-screen influence.

“Such a funny man(!) but even lovelier than he was funny,” Wright tweeted. “Condolences to your family and you, Ben.”

See more reactions to Stiller’s death below.