Anne Meara, one half of ‘Stiller & Meara’ and mother of Ben Stiller, dies

By Emanuella Grinberg, CNN
Updated 9:55 AM EDT, Tue July 7, 2015
Comedy great Anne Meara, one half of the comedy team "Stiller & Meara," died at 85 on Saturday, May 23, her family said. Meara and husband, Jerry Stiller, were regulars on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Click through the gallery to see more from the comedian
Photos: Comedy great Anne Meara
Comedy great Anne Meara, one half of the comedy team "Stiller & Meara," died at 85 on Saturday, May 23, her family said. Meara and husband, Jerry Stiller, were regulars on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Click through the gallery to see more from the comedian's long career:
PHOTO: Everett Collection
Anne Meara appears with Harry Guardino in "Lovers and Other Strangers" circa 1970.
Photos: Comedy great Anne Meara
Anne Meara appears with Harry Guardino in "Lovers and Other Strangers" circa 1970.
PHOTO: Everett Collection
Meara made an appearance with Jerry Stiller in the TV series "Courtship of Eddie
Photos: Comedy great Anne Meara
Meara made an appearance with Jerry Stiller in the TV series "Courtship of Eddie's Father," along with Bill Bixby, left, and Brandon Cruz.
PHOTO: Everett Collection
Meara played the title character in the 1975 television series "Kate McShane."
Photos: Comedy great Anne Meara
Meara played the title character in the 1975 television series "Kate McShane."
PHOTO: Everett Collection
Meara and Stiller on an episode of "Rhoda" in 1976. Meara appeared on the third season of the series as Sally Gallagher.
Photos: Comedy great Anne Meara
Meara and Stiller on an episode of "Rhoda" in 1976. Meara appeared on the third season of the series as Sally Gallagher.
PHOTO: Everett Collection
Meara played the wisecracking cook in the "All in the Family" spinoff "Archie Bunker
Photos: Comedy great Anne Meara
Meara played the wisecracking cook in the "All in the Family" spinoff "Archie Bunker's Place," which ran from 1979 to 1983.
PHOTO: Everett Collection
Meara appeared on several episodes of "ALF" from 1987 to 1989.
Photos: Comedy great Anne Meara
Meara appeared on several episodes of "ALF" from 1987 to 1989.
PHOTO: Everett Collection
Meara plays Sister Theresa in 2002
Photos: Comedy great Anne Meara
Meara plays Sister Theresa in 2002's "Like Mike," where an orphan makes it to the NBA after finding a pair of shoes with the initials "M.J." on them.
PHOTO: Everett Collection

Story highlights

Anne Meara and her husband, Jerry Stiller, were married for 61 years

They were a mainstay on TV comedies and game shows

(CNN) —  

Comedy great Anne Meara, the quick-witted half of the comedy team “Stiller & Meara,” died at 85 on Saturday, her family said.

Meara and her husband, Jerry Stiller, were married for 61 years and worked together almost as long, the family said in a statement. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, comic actor Ben Stiller, daughter Amy Stiller and grandchildren.

“Anne’s memory lives on in the hearts of daughter Amy, son Ben, her grandchildren, her extended family and friends, and the millions she entertained as an actress, writer and comedienne,” the family statement said.

Meara was born in 1929 in Brooklyn, New York, to parents of Irish-Catholic descent. She studied under acting teacher Uta Hagen and aspired to become a “serious” actor in the tradition of Maureen Stapleton and Kim Stanley.

Then she met Stiller, a Jewish boy from Brooklyn, and turned to comedy even though she “disdained” comedians, she said in a 2005 interview.

“I was glad he got us to be a comedy team, because then we weren’t just waiting for the agent to call,” she said. “We traveled with our own stuff.”

The couple made their name as Stiller & Meara in the 1960s with frequent performances on variety shows, including the “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Desperate to come up with a bit at the last minute, they plumbed the depths of their background to create “uber-Jewish guy” Hershey Horowitz and “uber-Irish girl” Mary Elizabeth Doyle – caricatures of themselves, they said in 2005.

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Photos: People we lost in 2015
Alex Rocco, the veteran tough-guy character actor with the gravelly voice best known for playing mobster and Las Vegas casino owner Moe Greene in "The Godfather," died on July 18. He was 79.
PHOTO: Everett Collection
Mexican singer Joan Sebastian, a beloved performer on the airwaves and in Mexican rodeos, died July 13 at the age of 64, son Jose Manuel Figueroa told CNN en Español.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Mexican singer Joan Sebastian, a beloved performer on the airwaves and in Mexican rodeos, died July 13 at the age of 64, son Jose Manuel Figueroa told CNN en Español.
PHOTO: Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Roger Rees, a Tony-winning theater star also widely known for his TV roles on "Cheers" and "The West Wing," died July 10 at the age of 71.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Roger Rees, a Tony-winning theater star also widely known for his TV roles on "Cheers" and "The West Wing," died July 10 at the age of 71.
PHOTO: Evening Standard/Getty Images
Egyptian actor Omar Sharif, who co-starred with Peter O
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Egyptian actor Omar Sharif, who co-starred with Peter O'Toole in "Lawrence of Arabia," died Friday, July 10, after suffering a heart attack in Cairo, according to his agent, Steve Kenis. Sharif, who also starred in "Doctor Zhivago" and "Funny Girl," was 83.
PHOTO: Mary Evans/COLUMBIA PICTURES/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection
Irwin Keyes, a character actor from films such as "Intolerable Cruelty" and "Night of 1,000 Corpses," died July 8. He was 63.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Irwin Keyes, a character actor from films such as "Intolerable Cruelty" and "Night of 1,000 Corpses," died July 8. He was 63.
PHOTO: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Automomous Films
Jerry Weintraub, the high-powered Hollywood mogul whose career included promoting Elvis Presley concerts, producing the "Ocean
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Jerry Weintraub, the high-powered Hollywood mogul whose career included promoting Elvis Presley concerts, producing the "Ocean's Eleven" movies and spinning golden tales, died July 6 of cardiac arrest, his publicist said. He was 77.
PHOTO: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Amanda Peterson, best known for her role opposite Patrick Dempsey in the 1987 movie "Can
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Amanda Peterson, best known for her role opposite Patrick Dempsey in the 1987 movie "Can't Buy Me Love," died July 3, her mother said. Peterson, seen here in 1988, was 43. The family was awaiting autopsy results to determine the official cause of death.
PHOTO: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage/getty images
Actress Diana Douglas Webster, the first wife of Kirk Douglas and mother of Michael Douglas, died July 3 at age 92.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Actress Diana Douglas Webster, the first wife of Kirk Douglas and mother of Michael Douglas, died July 3 at age 92.
PHOTO: ABC/Getty
Hall of Fame football player Charlie Sanders died on July 2, eight months after being diagnosed with cancer. He was 68. Sanders spent all 10 of his NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions, emerging as one of the best tight ends of his era.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Hall of Fame football player Charlie Sanders died on July 2, eight months after being diagnosed with cancer. He was 68. Sanders spent all 10 of his NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions, emerging as one of the best tight ends of his era.
PHOTO: Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
Bassist Chris Squire, founding member of British rock band Yes, died June 27 in Phoenix, his bandmates confirmed. Squire, 67, announced in May that he was sitting out the band
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Bassist Chris Squire, founding member of British rock band Yes, died June 27 in Phoenix, his bandmates confirmed. Squire, 67, announced in May that he was sitting out the band's upcoming tour dates to undergo treatment for leukemia.
PHOTO: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images
Patrick Macnee, the British actor who played bowler-hatted secret agent John Steed on the 1960s spy series "The Avengers," died on June 25. He was 93.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Patrick Macnee, the British actor who played bowler-hatted secret agent John Steed on the 1960s spy series "The Avengers," died on June 25. He was 93.
PHOTO: Getty Images/Hulton Archive
Dick Van Patten, the seemingly ubiquitous actor perhaps best known for his starring role as the father on the 1970s series "Eight Is Enough," died on June 23. He was 86.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Dick Van Patten, the seemingly ubiquitous actor perhaps best known for his starring role as the father on the 1970s series "Eight Is Enough," died on June 23. He was 86.
PHOTO: ABC Photo Archives / ABC /Getty Images
Academy Award-winning composer James Horner, perhaps best known for scoring "Titanic," died June 22 after the small plane he was piloting crashed in central California. He was 61.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Academy Award-winning composer James Horner, perhaps best known for scoring "Titanic," died June 22 after the small plane he was piloting crashed in central California. He was 61.
PHOTO: Kevin Winter
Dusty Rhodes -- the rotund, easy-bleeding, easy-talking professional wrestler who billed himself as "The American Dream" -- died June 11, the WWE said on its website. He was 69.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Dusty Rhodes -- the rotund, easy-bleeding, easy-talking professional wrestler who billed himself as "The American Dream" -- died June 11, the WWE said on its website. He was 69.
PHOTO: Moses Robinson/Getty Images
Ornette Coleman, the adventurous and influential saxophonist whose experimental sounds helped create what he called "free jazz," died on June 11. He was 85.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Ornette Coleman, the adventurous and influential saxophonist whose experimental sounds helped create what he called "free jazz," died on June 11. He was 85.
PHOTO: Frans Schellekens/Redferns/Getty Images
Indie rapper Pumpkinhead died June 9, according to friends. He was 39. The cause of death was not made public.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Indie rapper Pumpkinhead died June 9, according to friends. He was 39. The cause of death was not made public.
PHOTO: Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images
Christopher Lee, the British actor who mastered horror and Dracula roles before his turns as a Bond villain and the wizard Saruman in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, died June 7, a London borough spokesman said. He was 93.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Christopher Lee, the British actor who mastered horror and Dracula roles before his turns as a Bond villain and the wizard Saruman in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, died June 7, a London borough spokesman said. He was 93.
PHOTO: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images/FILE
Vincent Bugliosi, the Los Angeles prosecutor who became a best-selling author with "Helter Skelter" -- his true-crime account of the Manson family killings -- died June 6, his wife said. He was 80.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Vincent Bugliosi, the Los Angeles prosecutor who became a best-selling author with "Helter Skelter" -- his true-crime account of the Manson family killings -- died June 6, his wife said. He was 80.
PHOTO: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Singer Ronnie Gilbert, a member of the influential 1950s folk group the Weavers, died June 6. She was 88.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Singer Ronnie Gilbert, a member of the influential 1950s folk group the Weavers, died June 6. She was 88.
PHOTO: Rick Diamond/WireImage/Getty Images
Joseph "Beau" Biden III, an Iraq War veteran who served as the attorney general of Delaware and was a son of Vice President Joe Biden, died May 30 after battling brain cancer. He was 46.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Joseph "Beau" Biden III, an Iraq War veteran who served as the attorney general of Delaware and was a son of Vice President Joe Biden, died May 30 after battling brain cancer. He was 46.
PHOTO: STAN HONDA/AFP/GettyImages
Actress Betsy Palmer died May 29 of natural causes at a hospice care center near her home in Danbury, Connecticut, according to her manager Brad Lemack. She was 88.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Actress Betsy Palmer died May 29 of natural causes at a hospice care center near her home in Danbury, Connecticut, according to her manager Brad Lemack. She was 88.
PHOTO: CBS/Getty Imges
Comedian and actor Reynaldo Rey died on May 28 of complications from a stroke, according to his manager. He was 75.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Comedian and actor Reynaldo Rey died on May 28 of complications from a stroke, according to his manager. He was 75.
PHOTO: reynaldorey.com
Mary Ellen Mark, one of the premier documentary photographers of her generation, died May 25. She was 75. Mark
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Mary Ellen Mark, one of the premier documentary photographers of her generation, died May 25. She was 75. Mark's photography spanned decades, and her subjects included celebrities, world leaders and people on the fringe of society.
PHOTO: Ralph Gibson
Comedy great Anne Meara, wife of Jerry Stiller and mother of Ben Stiller, died on May 23, according to a statement from her family. She was 85.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Comedy great Anne Meara, wife of Jerry Stiller and mother of Ben Stiller, died on May 23, according to a statement from her family. She was 85.
PHOTO: Everett Collection
John Forbes Nash Jr., the mathematician whose life inspired the film "A Beautiful Mind," died in a car crash with his wife, Alicia, on May 23. He was 86.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
John Forbes Nash Jr., the mathematician whose life inspired the film "A Beautiful Mind," died in a car crash with his wife, Alicia, on May 23. He was 86.
PHOTO: MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images
Louis Johnson, who played with the Brothers Johnson and was an in-demand bassist who played on such hits as Michael Jackson
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Louis Johnson, who played with the Brothers Johnson and was an in-demand bassist who played on such hits as Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," died on May 21. He was 60.
PHOTO: Echoes/Redferns/Getty Images
Mary Ellen Trainor, whose films included "The Goonies," "Forrest Gump," "Scrooged" and the various "Lethal Weapon" films, died on May 20. She was 62.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Mary Ellen Trainor, whose films included "The Goonies," "Forrest Gump," "Scrooged" and the various "Lethal Weapon" films, died on May 20. She was 62.
PHOTO: ABC via Getty Images
The body of extreme-sports legend Dean Potter was found in Yosemite National Park during a helicopter search May 17, park spokesman Scott Gediman said. Friends had reported Potter and another athlete, Graham Hunt, missing, and it is believed that the pair BASE jumped from Taft Point, a scenic overhang in the park. Potter was 43, and Hunt was 29.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
The body of extreme-sports legend Dean Potter was found in Yosemite National Park during a helicopter search May 17, park spokesman Scott Gediman said. Friends had reported Potter and another athlete, Graham Hunt, missing, and it is believed that the pair BASE jumped from Taft Point, a scenic overhang in the park. Potter was 43, and Hunt was 29.
PHOTO: ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images
Hip-hop artist Lionel Pickens, known by the stage name of Chinx, died May 17 after being shot, according to the New York Police Department. He was 31.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Hip-hop artist Lionel Pickens, known by the stage name of Chinx, died May 17 after being shot, according to the New York Police Department. He was 31.
PHOTO: Brad Barket/Getty Images
Blues legend B.B. King, who helped bring blues from the margins to the mainstream, died May 14 in Las Vegas, according to his daughter Patty King. Two weeks earlier, it was announced that King was in home hospice care after suffering from dehydration. He was 89.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Blues legend B.B. King, who helped bring blues from the margins to the mainstream, died May 14 in Las Vegas, according to his daughter Patty King. Two weeks earlier, it was announced that King was in home hospice care after suffering from dehydration. He was 89.
PHOTO: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Elizabeth Wilson, a longtime character actress who played Dustin Hoffman
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Elizabeth Wilson, a longtime character actress who played Dustin Hoffman's mother, Mrs. Braddock, in "The Graduate," died May 9. She was 94.
PHOTO: Embassy Pictures/Getty Images
Errol Brown, the Hot Chocolate lead singer whose energetic, powerful vocals topped the hits "You Sexy Thing" and "Every 1
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Errol Brown, the Hot Chocolate lead singer whose energetic, powerful vocals topped the hits "You Sexy Thing" and "Every 1's a Winner," died May 6, his manager said. Brown was 71.
PHOTO: Sydney O'Meara/Evening Standard/Getty Images
Former House Speaker Jim Wright died May 6 at a nursing home in Fort Worth, Texas. The Texas Democrat
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Former House Speaker Jim Wright died May 6 at a nursing home in Fort Worth, Texas. The Texas Democrat's congressional career spanned more than three decades. He was 92.
PHOTO: Terry Ashe/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Ellen Albertini Dow, perhaps best known as the rapping granny in the 1998 movie "The Wedding Singer," died May 5 at the age of 101. She also appeared in "Wedding Crashers" and dozens of TV shows.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Ellen Albertini Dow, perhaps best known as the rapping granny in the 1998 movie "The Wedding Singer," died May 5 at the age of 101. She also appeared in "Wedding Crashers" and dozens of TV shows.
PHOTO: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Russian ballerina Maya Plisetskaya, who was considered one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century, died on May 2. She was 89.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Russian ballerina Maya Plisetskaya, who was considered one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century, died on May 2. She was 89.
PHOTO: Efrem Lukatsky/AP
Grace Lee Whitney, who played Yeoman Janice Rand in the original "Star Trek" series and a handful of movies based on the series, died May 1 at her home in Coarsegold, California. She was 85.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Grace Lee Whitney, who played Yeoman Janice Rand in the original "Star Trek" series and a handful of movies based on the series, died May 1 at her home in Coarsegold, California. She was 85.
PHOTO: CBS via Getty Images
Singer Ben E. King, whose classic hit "Stand by Me" became an enduring testament of love and devotion for generations of listeners, died on April 30. He was 76.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Singer Ben E. King, whose classic hit "Stand by Me" became an enduring testament of love and devotion for generations of listeners, died on April 30. He was 76.
PHOTO: Gilles Petard/Redferns/Getty Images
Jack Ely, co-founder of the early
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Jack Ely, co-founder of the early '60s band The Kingsmen and best known for his 1963 rendition of the party classic "Louie, Louie," died April 28 after a long battle with an illness. He was 71.
PHOTO: Don Ryan/FILE/AP
Suzanne Crough, who played Tracy, the youngest daughter on ABC
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Suzanne Crough, who played Tracy, the youngest daughter on ABC's "The Partridge Family," died unexpectedly in her Nevada home on April 27. She was 52.
PHOTO: ABC Photo Archives/ABC/Getty Images
Andrew Lesnie, the Oscar-winning cinematographer who spent more than a decade collaborating with Peter Jackson on the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" films, died April 27. He was 59.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Andrew Lesnie, the Oscar-winning cinematographer who spent more than a decade collaborating with Peter Jackson on the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" films, died April 27. He was 59.
PHOTO: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
Sawyer Sweeten, left, grew up before millions as a child star on the family sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond." Early on April 23, he committed suicide, his sister Madylin Sweeten said in a statement. He was 19. Sawyer was a year and a half old when he started on "Raymond," playing alongside his real-life twin brother, Sullivan, at right.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Sawyer Sweeten, left, grew up before millions as a child star on the family sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond." Early on April 23, he committed suicide, his sister Madylin Sweeten said in a statement. He was 19. Sawyer was a year and a half old when he started on "Raymond," playing alongside his real-life twin brother, Sullivan, at right.
PHOTO: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
Lois Lilienstein, one of the stars of CBC and Nickelodeon
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Lois Lilienstein, one of the stars of CBC and Nickelodeon's "The Elephant Show," died on April 22. She was 78.
PHOTO: Ron Bull/Toronto Star/Getty Images
Mary Doyle Keefe, the model for Norman Rockwell
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Mary Doyle Keefe, the model for Norman Rockwell's "Rosie the Riveter," died at her home in Simsbury, Connecticut, on April 21. She was 92.
PHOTO: Jim Cole/AP
R&B singer Johnny Kemp, best known for the 1988 party anthem "Just Got Paid," died April 16 in Jamaica. He is believed to have drowned at a beach in Montego Bay, the Jamaica Constabulatory Force said in a press release.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
R&B singer Johnny Kemp, best known for the 1988 party anthem "Just Got Paid," died April 16 in Jamaica. He is believed to have drowned at a beach in Montego Bay, the Jamaica Constabulatory Force said in a press release.
PHOTO: Shahar Azran/WireImag/Getty Images
Actor Jonathan Crombie, who co-starred in the "Anne of Green Gables" TV movies, died April 15 at age 48. Crombie died from complications of a brain hemorrhage, "Anne of Green Gables" producer Kevin Sullivan said.
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Actor Jonathan Crombie, who co-starred in the "Anne of Green Gables" TV movies, died April 15 at age 48. Crombie died from complications of a brain hemorrhage, "Anne of Green Gables" producer Kevin Sullivan said.
PHOTO: Dick Loek/Toronto Star via Getty Images
Percy Sledge, known for the single "When a Man Loves a Woman," died April 14 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, according to the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner
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Percy Sledge, known for the single "When a Man Loves a Woman," died April 14 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, according to the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office. He was 73.
PHOTO: Gilles Petard/Redferns/getty images
Nobel literature laureate Gunter Grass, best known for his novel "The Tin Drum," has died, his publisher said April 13. He was 87.
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Nobel literature laureate Gunter Grass, best known for his novel "The Tin Drum," has died, his publisher said April 13. He was 87.
PHOTO: Sebastian Willnow/Getty Images
Richard Dysart, the Emmy-winning actor who portrayed the cranky senior partner Leland McKenzie in the NBC drama "L.A. Law," has died at the age of 86, it was reported on April 9.
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Richard Dysart, the Emmy-winning actor who portrayed the cranky senior partner Leland McKenzie in the NBC drama "L.A. Law," has died at the age of 86, it was reported on April 9.
PHOTO: Eike Schroter/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Stan Freberg, acclaimed satirist, died of natural causes at a Santa Monica, California, hospital, his son and daughter confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on April 7. He was 88.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Stan Freberg, acclaimed satirist, died of natural causes at a Santa Monica, California, hospital, his son and daughter confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on April 7. He was 88.
PHOTO: Bill Bridges/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Ben Powers, who played Thelma
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Ben Powers, who played Thelma's husband Keith Anderson on the final season of the classic CBS sitcom "Good Times," died on April 6. He was 64.
PHOTO: NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
James Best, the actor best known for his portrayal of bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on TV
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James Best, the actor best known for his portrayal of bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on TV's "The Dukes of Hazzard," died April 6 after a brief illness. He was 88.
PHOTO: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
Robert Lewis Burns Jr., Lynyrd Skynyrd
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Robert Lewis Burns Jr., Lynyrd Skynyrd's original drummer, died in a car crash on April 3, according to the Georgia State Patrol. He was 64.
PHOTO: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
The Rev. Robert H. Schuller, televangelist and founder of the Crystal Cathedral church in California, died on April 2, according to his family. He was 88 years old.
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The Rev. Robert H. Schuller, televangelist and founder of the Crystal Cathedral church in California, died on April 2, according to his family. He was 88 years old.
PHOTO: Chris Carlson/AP
Cynthia Lennon, the first wife of John Lennon, died April 1, according to a post on the website of her son, Julian. She was 75.
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Cynthia Lennon, the first wife of John Lennon, died April 1, according to a post on the website of her son, Julian. She was 75.
PHOTO: Paul Popper/Popperfoto/Getty Images
Singapore
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Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew died on March 23, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's office. He was 91. Lee, credited for transforming the colonial trading post into a prosperous financial center, was admitted to a hospital in February with severe pneumonia.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File
A.J. Pero, a longtime drummer for the metal band Twisted Sister, died on March 20, according to the band
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A.J. Pero, a longtime drummer for the metal band Twisted Sister, died on March 20, according to the band's Facebook page and Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider. Pero was 55.
PHOTO: Mark Weiss/Getty Images
For more than two decades, bassist Mike Porcaro was a rock star with the band Toto, playing venues around the world. Porcaro died after a battle with Lou Gehrig
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For more than two decades, bassist Mike Porcaro was a rock star with the band Toto, playing venues around the world. Porcaro died after a battle with Lou Gehrig's disease, or ALS, on March 15. He was 59.
PHOTO: Oliver Berg/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Best-selling British fantasy author Terry Pratchett died at the age of 66, his website said March 12. Pratchett wrote more than 70 books, including those in his "Discworld" series. He had been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer
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Best-selling British fantasy author Terry Pratchett died at the age of 66, his website said March 12. Pratchett wrote more than 70 books, including those in his "Discworld" series. He had been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease in 2007.
PHOTO: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Richard Glatzer, director of the movie "Still Alice," died March 10 after battling ALS for four years, his publicist said. Glatzer was 63.
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Richard Glatzer, director of the movie "Still Alice," died March 10 after battling ALS for four years, his publicist said. Glatzer was 63.
PHOTO: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Windell D. Middlebrooks, the actor best known as the straight-talking Miller High Life delivery man, died March 9, his agent told CNN. His family also posted a statement on his Facebook page confirming the 36-year-old
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Windell D. Middlebrooks, the actor best known as the straight-talking Miller High Life delivery man, died March 9, his agent told CNN. His family also posted a statement on his Facebook page confirming the 36-year-old's death. No cause of death was provided. Middlebrooks also had recurring roles on "Body of Proof," "Scrubs" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."
PHOTO: Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Sam Simon, the nine-time Emmy Award-winning writer and producer who helped develop "The Simpsons," made millions after leaving the show in 1993 and then donated his riches to charity, has died, his foundation announced on Facebook on March 9. He was 59.
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Sam Simon, the nine-time Emmy Award-winning writer and producer who helped develop "The Simpsons," made millions after leaving the show in 1993 and then donated his riches to charity, has died, his foundation announced on Facebook on March 9. He was 59.
PHOTO: Araya Diaz/Getty Images
Albert Maysles, who collaborated with his late brother David in a documentary film career that included the troubling 1970 concert documentary "Gimme Shelter," died March 5. He was 88.
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Albert Maysles, who collaborated with his late brother David in a documentary film career that included the troubling 1970 concert documentary "Gimme Shelter," died March 5. He was 88.
PHOTO: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Character actor Daniel von Bargen, seen here in the 1995 film "Lord of Illusions," was better-known for playing George Costanza
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Character actor Daniel von Bargen, seen here in the 1995 film "Lord of Illusions," was better-known for playing George Costanza's inept boss Mr. Kruger on "Seinfeld" and a hard-nosed military commander on "Malcolm in the Middle." Von Bargen died March 1 at the age of 64.
PHOTO: Seraphim Films/IMDB
Leonard Nimoy, whose portrayal of "Star Trek
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Leonard Nimoy, whose portrayal of "Star Trek's" logic-driven, half-human science officer Spock made him an iconic figure to generations, died on February 27. He was 83.
PHOTO: cbs via getty images
Actor Ben Woolf died February 23 at the age of 34. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that he had been hit by a car
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Actor Ben Woolf died February 23 at the age of 34. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that he had been hit by a car's side mirror several days earlier in Hollywood.
PHOTO: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
"Parks and Recreation" executive producer Harris Wittels died of a possible overdose, police said February 19. He was 30.
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"Parks and Recreation" executive producer Harris Wittels died of a possible overdose, police said February 19. He was 30.
PHOTO: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Mexican telenovela actress Lorena Rojas died February 17 at her Miami home. The 44-year-old had been battling cancer since 2008.
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Mexican telenovela actress Lorena Rojas died February 17 at her Miami home. The 44-year-old had been battling cancer since 2008.
PHOTO: Vallery Jean/FilmMagic/getty images
Lesley Gore, whose No. 1 hit "It
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Lesley Gore, whose No. 1 hit "It's My Party" kicked off a successful singing career while she was still in high school, died February 16 at the age of 68. According to People magazine, the cause of death was cancer.
PHOTO: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Former U.S. poet laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Philip Levine, whose work reflected the voice and soul of 20th-century blue-collar America, died Saturday, February 14, at his home in Fresno, California. He was 87.
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Former U.S. poet laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Philip Levine, whose work reflected the voice and soul of 20th-century blue-collar America, died Saturday, February 14, at his home in Fresno, California. He was 87.
PHOTO: Gary Kazanjian/AP
Voice-over performer Gary Owens died Friday, February 13, at the age of 80. Owens, a former radio disc jockey, was known as the voice of Space Ghost, Batman and many other characters. He gained nationwide fame in the late 1960s as the straight-laced announcer on TV
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Voice-over performer Gary Owens died Friday, February 13, at the age of 80. Owens, a former radio disc jockey, was known as the voice of Space Ghost, Batman and many other characters. He gained nationwide fame in the late 1960s as the straight-laced announcer on TV's frenetic "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In."
PHOTO: Ron Galella/WireImage/Getty Images
New York Times media columnist David Carr died suddenly after collapsing in the newspaper
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New York Times media columnist David Carr died suddenly after collapsing in the newspaper's newsroom on Thursday, February 12. He was 58.
PHOTO: Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images
"60 Minutes" correspondent Bob Simon died Wednesday, February 11, in a car accident in New York, CBS News reported. He was 73.
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"60 Minutes" correspondent Bob Simon died Wednesday, February 11, in a car accident in New York, CBS News reported. He was 73.
PHOTO: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Jerry Tarkanian, a legendary basketball coach who won the 1990 national championship at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, died Wednesday, February 11. He was 84.
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Jerry Tarkanian, a legendary basketball coach who won the 1990 national championship at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, died Wednesday, February 11. He was 84.
PHOTO: Otto Greule/Allsp/Getty Images
Basketball coach Dean Smith, who led the University of North Carolina from 1961 to 1997 and won two national championships over his illustrious career, died February 7 at the age of 83, according to the university
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Basketball coach Dean Smith, who led the University of North Carolina from 1961 to 1997 and won two national championships over his illustrious career, died February 7 at the age of 83, according to the university's official athletics website.
PHOTO: Phil Sears/ALLSPORT
Billy Casper, a pioneer of professional golf whose career spanned more than four decades, died at the age of 83, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported on February 7. His resume included three major titles and 51 PGA Tour wins.
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Billy Casper, a pioneer of professional golf whose career spanned more than four decades, died at the age of 83, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported on February 7. His resume included three major titles and 51 PGA Tour wins.
PHOTO: Augusta National/Getty Images
Charles Sifford, the first black player on the PGA Tour, died on February 3, according to Derek Sprague, president of the PGA of America. Sifford was 92.
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Charles Sifford, the first black player on the PGA Tour, died on February 3, according to Derek Sprague, president of the PGA of America. Sifford was 92.
PHOTO: Gary Newkirk/Allsport/Getty Images
Australian writer Colleen McCullough, who wrote the best-selling novel "The Thorn Birds," died on January 29. She was 77.
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Australian writer Colleen McCullough, who wrote the best-selling novel "The Thorn Birds," died on January 29. She was 77.
PHOTO: Ulf Andersen/Getty Images
Longtime New York City radio and television personality Joe Franklin died January 24 at the age of 88.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Longtime New York City radio and television personality Joe Franklin died January 24 at the age of 88.
PHOTO: Kevin Larkin/AP
Ernie Banks, a Hall of Fame baseball player nicknamed "Mr. Cub," died January 23 in Chicago, family attorney Mark Bogen said. Banks was 83.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Ernie Banks, a Hall of Fame baseball player nicknamed "Mr. Cub," died January 23 in Chicago, family attorney Mark Bogen said. Banks was 83.
PHOTO: AP
Anne Kirkbride, who starred in the UK soap opera "Coronation Street" for more than 40 years, died on January 19. She was 60.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Anne Kirkbride, who starred in the UK soap opera "Coronation Street" for more than 40 years, died on January 19. She was 60.
PHOTO: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Hip-hop artist A$AP Yams, one of the founding members of A$AP Mob, died at the age of 26, the group
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Hip-hop artist A$AP Yams, one of the founding members of A$AP Mob, died at the age of 26, the group's Facebook page said on January 18. It wasn't immediately clear how he had died.
PHOTO: John Ricard/BET/Getty Images
The death of punk music producer Kim Fowley was announced on January 15. He was 75. Fowley worked with a wide range of artists, including Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Modern Lovers, Blue Cheer, Kiss and Helen Reddy. But he will be likely be remembered most for helping form the Runaways.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
The death of punk music producer Kim Fowley was announced on January 15. He was 75. Fowley worked with a wide range of artists, including Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Modern Lovers, Blue Cheer, Kiss and Helen Reddy. But he will be likely be remembered most for helping form the Runaways.
PHOTO: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Anita Ekberg, the actress and international sex symbol best known for her role in "La Dolce Vita," died in Italy on January 11. She was 83.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Anita Ekberg, the actress and international sex symbol best known for her role in "La Dolce Vita," died in Italy on January 11. She was 83.
PHOTO: Larry Ellis/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Actor and comedian Taylor Negron died after a long battle with cancer, according to his family on January 10. He was 57.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Actor and comedian Taylor Negron died after a long battle with cancer, according to his family on January 10. He was 57.
PHOTO: Everett Collection
Andrae Crouch, a seven-time Grammy winner and gospel music legend, died January 8 at a Los Angeles-area hospital, his publicist said. He was 72.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Andrae Crouch, a seven-time Grammy winner and gospel music legend, died January 8 at a Los Angeles-area hospital, his publicist said. He was 72.
PHOTO: Everett Collection
Australian-born actor Rod Taylor, who starred in Alfred Hitchcock
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Australian-born actor Rod Taylor, who starred in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller "The Birds," died on January 7 in Los Angeles. He was 84.
PHOTO: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
Edward Brooke, the first African-American to be popularly elected to the U.S. Senate, died January 3, according to family spokesman Ralph Neas and the Massachusetts Republican Party. Brooke was 95.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Edward Brooke, the first African-American to be popularly elected to the U.S. Senate, died January 3, according to family spokesman Ralph Neas and the Massachusetts Republican Party. Brooke was 95.
PHOTO: Bachrach/Getty Images
Stuart Scott, a veteran anchor on ESPN, died January 4 after a seven-year battle with cancer. He was 49.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Stuart Scott, a veteran anchor on ESPN, died January 4 after a seven-year battle with cancer. He was 49.
PHOTO: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Country music star Little Jimmy Dickens, a fixture at the Grand Ole Opry for decades, died January 2 after having a stroke on Christmas, according to the Opry
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Country music star Little Jimmy Dickens, a fixture at the Grand Ole Opry for decades, died January 2 after having a stroke on Christmas, according to the Opry's website. He was 94.
PHOTO: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Donna Douglas, who played voluptuous tomboy daughter Elly May Clampett on the 1960s TV series "The Beverly Hillbillies," died January 2. She was 81.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Donna Douglas, who played voluptuous tomboy daughter Elly May Clampett on the 1960s TV series "The Beverly Hillbillies," died January 2. She was 81.
PHOTO: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, whose passionate keynote address at the 1984 Democratic political convention vaulted him onto the national political scene, died on January 1. He was 82.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, whose passionate keynote address at the 1984 Democratic political convention vaulted him onto the national political scene, died on January 1. He was 82.
PHOTO: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images/Rodaale

The couple met at a New York casting call in 1953. Meara left crying, saying the agent chased her around the office, a scene described in Stiller’s autobiography, “Married to Laughter: A Love Story Featuring Anne Meara.”

“She looked sort of puritanical and smelled nice,” Stiller said of the “angel-faced” aspiring actress. When he invited her out for coffee, he was caught off-guard when she asked him to steal silverware in exchange for paying her share.

“I told myself, ‘What am I getting myself into, hanging out with New York actresses? They’re all crazy,’ ” he wrote.

They married in 1954, and she converted to Judaism, according to The Hollywood Reporter. After years of struggling to stardom, they eventually teamed up for a comedy act playing exaggerated versions of themselves in New York’s Greenwich Village coffeehouses: self-deprecating, kvetching New Yorkers.

They polished their act at Chicago’s Compass Theater, a 1950s cabaret revue show whose members went on to form the Second City Theater in 1959. Before long, they were performing as Stiller & Meara on popular TV shows of the 1960s including “The Merv Griffin Show,” “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

Their success led to a contract for Blue Nun wine radio commercials, a long-running campaign credited with boosting sales of the semi-sweet German wine.

By the 1970s, they were ready to pursue independent careers or risk ending their marriage.

“I didn’t know where the act ended and our marriage began,” Meara told People magazine in 1977.

“I love Anne, but if I had depended on her in my professional life … I would have lost her as a wife,” Stiller told the magazine.

Stiller pursued a career in comedy that led to memorable roles as George Costanza’s father on “Seinfield” and “The King of Queens.”

Meara became a regular on the game show circuit and landed the role of Sally Gallagher on the TV series “Rhoda.” She went on to play hundreds of TV roles in the 1980s and 1990s in practically every hit show of the moment, from “The Love Boat” to “ALF” to “Sex and the City” and “King of Queens.”

News of her death prompted tributes from fans and celebrities spanning generations.

“My heart and prayers go out to Jerry and Ben for the loss of their beloved Anne Meara,” actress Patty Duke said.

CNN’s Karan Olson contributed to this report.