About
"I couldn't have done it without you [Jerry Stiller] because I had to have someone to hock. It's that simple. Conflict."
In the one-hour solo portion of her interview, Anne Meara (1929-2015) recalls her teenage aspirations to be a serious actress. She tells of her time doing summer stock productions and discusses her roles on Archie Bunker's Place, Rhoda, Murphy Brown, and Will & Grace. She also details her recurring role on Sex and the City.
In the over-one-hour joint portion of their interview, Jerry Stiller (1927-2020) and Anne Meara describe how they became a comedy team. They recount meeting as working actors in New York City and getting together as an act. They discuss their many appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, outline their comedy routines, and talk about the interactions that they had with Ed Sullivan himself. They also speak on the challenges of raising two children (Ben and Amy Stiller) while on the road. Gary J. Rutkowski conducted the interview on December 12, 2005 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Anne Meara on her recurring character on Sex and the City
Anne Meara on appearing on Sesame Street
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on how they became a comedy team
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on the commercial parodies in their act
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on creating their alter egos
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her childhood and early influences; on wanting to be a serious actress; on live television versus stage work
On appearing on the soap opera, The Greatest Gift; on starring in the short-lived series Kate McShane; on working with Laurence Olivier
On getting cast in Archie Bunker's Place; on appearing on Rhoda, Murphy Brown, and All My Children
On her play "After Play" and appearing on Oz
Chapter 2
On writing; on appearing on Will & Grace and her recurring character on Sex and the City; on appearing on Sesame Street
On her acting style; on getting typecast; on her proudest career achievement and how she'd like to be remembered
Chapter 3
START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH JERRY STILLER: On how they met
On becoming a comedy team; on their television debut as a comedy team on The Ed Sullivan Show; on creating their alter egos; on having children
Chapter 4
On rehearsals and material for The Ed Sullivan Show; on Ed Sullivan
On the commercial parodies in their act; on the legacy of The Ed Sullivan Show
On their Blue Nun radio commercials
Chapter 5
On their appearances on sketch comedy shows; on their rapport
On the difficulties of raising a family while they both worked; on their children, Ben and Amy Stiller, being interested in show business
On fighting for the Cobra bill to extend health insurance for actors; on speaking out politically; on their favorite stories about each other
Shows
All My Children
Anne Meara on appearing on All My Children in the 1990s
Archie Bunker's Place
Anne Meara on getting cast as "Veronica Rooney" in Archie Bunker's Place
Anne Meara on working with Carroll O'Connor on Archie Bunker's Place
Anne Meara on working with the cast of Archie Bunker's Place
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on rehearsals for The Ed Sullivan Show
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on rehearsals and material for The Ed Sullivan Show
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on their last appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show and the legacy of the show
Greatest Gift, The
Anne Meara on appearing on the soap opera, The Greatest Gift
King of Queens, The
Anne Meara on appearing with her husband, Jerry Stiller on The King of Queens
Medical Center
Anne Meara on guest-starring on Medical Center
Merv Griffin Show, The
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on their television debut as a comedy team on The Merv Griffin Show
Murphy Brown
Anne Meara on appearing on Murphy Brown
Oz
Anne Meara on appearing on Oz
Rhoda
Anne Meara on appearing on Rhoda
Sesame Street
Anne Meara on appearing on Sesame Street
Sex and the City
Anne Meara on her recurring character on Sex and the City
Anne Meara on her character's role in the finale of Sex and the City
Sex and the City: "An American Girl in Paris (Part Deux)"
Anne Meara on her character's role in the finale of Sex and the City
Will & Grace
Anne Meara on appearing on Will & Grace
Topics
Hollywood Blacklist
Anne Meara on her recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Anne Meara on her recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist
Television Industry
Anne Meara on her recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist
Professions
Actress
Anne Meara on her path to becoming an actress
Anne Meara on her acting style
Comedian
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on how they became a comedy team
Performers
Anne Meara on her path to becoming an actress
Anne Meara on her acting style
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on how they became a comedy team
Genres
Comedy Series
Anne Meara on her recurring character on Sex and the City
Commercials
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on their Blue Nun radio commercials
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on rehearsals and material for The Ed Sullivan Show
People
Martin Balsam
Anne Meara on working with Martin Balsam on Archie Bunker's Place
Chad Everett
Anne Meara on guest-starring on Medical Center
Michael Patrick King
Anne Meara on her recurring character on Sex and the City
Zero Mostel
Anne Meara on working with the blacklisted actor Zero Mostel
Cynthia Nixon
Anne Meara on working with Cynthia Nixon on Sex and the City
Carroll O'Connor
Anne Meara on working with Carroll O'Connor on Archie Bunker's Place
Laurence Olivier
Anne Meara on working with Laurence Olivier
Joseph Papp
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on working together for Joseph Papp
Ed Sullivan
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on Ed Sullivan
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on Ed Sullivan mispronouncing Anne Meara's name