
Ben Stiller, famous for his roles in comedies like Meet the Parents and Zoolander, became a staple of the comedy genre in the late ’90s and early 2000s. But not everyone was a fan of his comedic style. In a recent appearance on The Interview podcast by the New York Times, Stiller recalled an incident where a critic publicly called for Hollywood to stop casting him in comedy films.
He explained that he was flipping through the L.A. Times one day when he came across an open letter from a writer that read, “Dear God, stop putting Ben Stiller in comedies.” Stiller admitted that it left him a bit confused, saying, “I was just like, I don’t know, I’m here; I love doing what I do.”
Looking back at his career, Stiller was surprised by the positive reactions he received from audiences, even though he didn’t quite understand why people were so drawn to his performances at the time. Despite the criticism, he expressed gratitude for being part of the comedy wave that dominated that era. “There was a thing happening that I was fortunate to be a part of,” he said.
He pointed out that comedies from that time had a unique tone and style that is hard to replicate today. He even noted that it would be a challenge to recreate the same comedic magic in today’s film landscape. Stiller’s rise to fame in comedy came right after the success of his MTV sketch show, The Ben Stiller Show, which earned him widespread recognition and laid the groundwork for his later movie success.