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Ben Stiller: Career retrospective

Ben Stiller was born and bred into comedy. His parents were buzzed-about comedians Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, and they weren't shy about introducing the world of entertainment to their son. At a young age, Stiller and his sister Amy would dress up in her tights to perform Shakespeare renditions at home. As Stiller grew older, he turned to the stage and studied the craft at UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. He had always been a fan of Tom Cruise. Obsessed, even. At the time, he spoofed Cruise's role in sports drama "The Color of Money" (1986), which garnered the attention of "Saturday Night Live," and ultimately led to Stiller's year-long gig on the show. Since then, the New York native has starred in a legion of comedy features -- romantic, crime and sports-driven. Here we recap a portion of Stiller's onscreen work through the years. By Christy Khoshaba

Ben Stiller was born and bred into comedy. His parents were buzzed-about comedians Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, and they weren’t shy about introducing the world of entertainment to their son. At a young age, Stiller and his sister Amy would dress up in her tights to perform Shakespeare renditions at home.

As Stiller grew older, he turned to the stage and studied the craft at UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. He had always been a fan of Tom Cruise. Obsessed, even. At the time, he spoofed Cruise’s role in sports drama “The Color of Money” (1986), which garnered the attention of “Saturday Night Live,” and ultimately led to Stiller’s year-long gig on the show.

Since then, the New York native has starred in a legion of comedy features -- romantic, crime and sports-driven. Here we recap a portion of Stiller’s onscreen work through the years.

By Christy Khoshaba   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Ben Stiller | 'Empire of the Sun' | 1987

Stiller makes his big screen debut in Steven Spielberg’s war drama “Empire of the Sun,” alongside a young Christian Bale, pictured. The tale dives into an English boy’s struggle to survive under Japanese occupation circa World War II.   (Unknown Photographer / Unknown Photographer)

Ben Stiller | 'Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story' | 2004

Stiller plays a fitness guru entangled in a dodgeball competition in this sports comedy. The character he portrayed in this film was similar to the character in the film “Heavy Weights” (1995).   (Tracy Bennett / AP )

Ben Stiller | 'Night at the Museum' | 2006

Based on a children’s book by the same name, the tale centers around Stiller as a new night guard at the Museum of Natural History. When he discovers an ancient curse that turns the animals and exhibits on display into real life creatures, chaos soon emerges. The film generated a sequel titled “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” (2009).   (Donae Gregory / AP )

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Ben Stiller | Look, Ma! Handprints (and footprints!) | 2013

Stiller is honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre on Dec. 3, 2013 in Hollywood.  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

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