Whatever talent I had, I'm sure it helped that my parents were in the business and that I grew up around actors, comedians and directors.

In the meantime he also had a bit part in Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun. He started performing on the cabaret circuit as opening act to the cabaret siren Jadin Wong. Stiller displayed an early interest in filmmaking and made Super 8 movies with his sister and friends.

1 billion in Canada and the United States with an average of $73 million per film. Having previously acted in television he began acting in films; he made his directorial debut with Reality Bites. After beginning his acting career with a play Stiller wrote several mockumentaries and was offered his own show entitled The Ben Stiller Show which he produced and hosted for its entire run: 13 episodes.