Jerry Stiller’s Lower East Side
Comedy legend Jerry Stiller passed away yesterday morning at his Upper West Side home. He was 92.
Cause of death – “natural causes,” according to an update from his actor son, Ben Stiller.
The elder Stiller – best known for playing Frank Costanza on Seinfeld – was a product of the Lower East Side. Born in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn on June 8, 1927, he was the oldest of four children. The family later moved to the then recently-unveiled, 24-building Vladeck Houses, where he spent his teenage years.
Stiller himself was also a student at Seward Park High School.
It wasn’t out of the ordinary to see the comedian around the neighborhood over the years. Indeed, back in 2003, he hosted a “cell phone walking tour” of his favorite area haunts. We even spotted him shopping inside Yonah Schimmel’s Knishes on East Houston several years ago.
I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes. He was a great dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed. Love you Dad. pic.twitter.com/KyoNsJIBz5
— Ben Stiller (@RedHourBen) May 11, 2020
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