Ben Stiller recounts moving childhood story about father Jerry Stiller and stolen bicycle

‘Seinfeld’ and ‘The King of Queens’ actor died last week aged 92

Clémence Michallon
New York City
Wednesday 20 May 2020 14:27 BST
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Ben Stiller recounts sweet story about father and stolen bicycle

Ben Stiller has shared a touching childhood story involving his late father Jerry Stiller and a stolen bicycle.

The younger Stiller shared memories of his father during a remote appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday.

One of the anecdotes he told dates back to when Ben Stiller was “about 11 or 12 years old” and riding his bicycle in Riverside Park, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

As Stiller told Fallon, another child asked him if he could ride the bicycle. Stiller let him, after which “the kid took the bike and never came back”.

Jerry Stiller then took his son to purchase a new bicycle, and while at the store, Ben Stiller spotted the child in question.

His father ended up confronting the boy. The younger Stiller expected Jerry to return with the bicycle, but was surprised to see his father come out of the exchange empty-handed.

“Ten minutes go by, and he comes out and he doesn’t have the bike,” Ben Stiller recounted.

“I said, ‘What’s going on?’ He goes, ‘We’re going to let him keep the bike. He needs it. I’ll go get you another one.’

“He let the kid keep the bike because he felt bad.”

Jerry Stiller died last week aged 92.

Many have paid tribute to the actor in the wake of his death, including Jerry Seinfeld.

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