Key Highlights
- Ben Stiller donates his parents’ archive to the National Comedy Center.
- The archive spans over five decades and includes materials from “Stiller & Meara’s” creative process.
- “Nothing Is Lost,” Ben Stiller’s new documentary, showcases selections from the archive.
- The archive will be showcased in Jamestown, NY, where it pairs with cutting-edge technology to tell the story of American comedy.
New Home for Jerry and Anne Meara’s Archive at National Comedy Center
Jamestown, N.Y. — The National Comedy Center has welcomed a significant donation from Ben Stiller: the career archive of his legendary parents, Jerry and Anne Meara. This collection, spanning more than five decades, captures the evolution and impact of one of America’s most enduring comedic partnerships.
A Treasure Trove of Comedy
The archive includes everything from early improv sessions to love letters that encapsulate their youthful courtship, handwritten drafts of iconic sketches like “Computer Dating” and “The Last Two People on Earth,” and materials showcasing the couple’s 36 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. This treasure trove offers a rare look at the creative process behind some of comedy’s most beloved moments.
A Personal Documentary
Ben Stiller’s new documentary, “Nothing Is Lost,” complements this donation. The film provides audiences with an intimate glimpse into his parents’ lives and legacy, featuring materials from the archive that have never been seen before. Through a deeply personal lens, it highlights how their work influenced comedy as we know it today.
Breaking Ground in Comedy
The Mearas were pioneers who broke ground by mining their own lives for comedic material rooted in honesty and affection. Their recurring characters, Hershey Horowitz and Mary Elizabeth Doyle, reflected the friction of worlds colliding—a widely felt experience in post-war America. With warmth and intelligence, they helped mainstream conversations about cultural difference, interfaith dating, gender equity, and the loosening of traditional relationship roles.
Parallel Careers
Beyond their collaborative work, both Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara built acclaimed solo careers. Anne was a writer and in-demand TV actress who won four Emmy nominations over three decades, including one for her late-career renaissance on the Broadway stage. Jerry, as both a seasoned stage performer and a screen actor, embodied unforgettable comedic characters in films like Hairspray and on television series such as The King of Queens.
A Lasting Legacy
“Knowing my parents’ body of work is preserved at the National Comedy Center means a great deal,” Stiller said. “The material they left behind was not just a gift for our family, but for anyone who wants to understand comedy as a creative process. They would have been very proud.”
The newly donated archive will be showcased in Jamestown, NY, where it pairs with cutting-edge technology to tell the story of American comedy’s history, impact, and evolution. This addition to the National Comedy Center’s extensive collection brings together artifacts, documents, and recordings representing comedy’s heritage from icons like George Carlin to groundbreaking shows like I Love Lucy and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
In a world where comedy continues to evolve, this donation ensures that the foundational work of Jerry and Anne Meara will inspire future generations. The National Comedy Center is now not only a museum but also a living archive that keeps their legacy alive through technology and education.
