All There Is with Anderson Cooper Ben Stiller: Facing His Past
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Dec 10, 2025 
In this heartfelt conversation, Ben Stiller, acclaimed actor and director, delves into his parents' legacy as he explores their archives. He candidly shares how sorting through their belongings spurred insights about his own parenting and emotional processing. Ben discusses the power of ordinary objects, revealing the profound memories they evoke. He reflects on moments of connection with his late parents and confronts his own experiences with grief, ultimately using creativity as a vehicle for healing.
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Digging Through The Family Archive
- Ben Stiller began sorting his parents' apartment and found hundreds of tapes and Super 8 films that pulled him into memories and archival rabbit holes.
- He documented the apartment visually and used the material to start making the film Stiller and Meara to process the loss.
Fame, Parties, And Personal Keepsakes
- Ben describes finding his parents' social life strewn through Christmas cards, party photos, and recordings that revealed famous guests like Charlie Chaplin.
- Those discoveries complicated grief by mixing pride, nostalgia, and questions about what to keep or discard.
Family Patterns Repeat In Subtle Ways
- Patterns repeat across generations: Ben realized his work-driven focus mirrored his parents' habits despite intending to do better.
- That recognition reframed his parenting and spurred ongoing efforts to change behavior, not just intentions.