Stiller was born in New York and raised in Manhattan, being the second son of a few known comedians. From small their parents often took him to the sets where acting and therefore showed an early interest in film, making films on Super 8 with his sister and his friends. Within 10 years, made its debut as an actor in the series of her mother, Kate McShane.

Got a role in a reissue of The House of Blue Leaves on Broadway in John Guare alongside John Mahoney, a work which won four Tonys. Stiller produced a satirical fake-documentary whose protagonist was his companion Mahoney. His work as a comedian was very well received and enabled him to conduct a 10-minute short film called "The Hustler of Money," a parody of Martin Scorsese's film The Color of Money in which Stiller played the role of Tom Cruise and the Mahoney Paul Newman, but instead of playing billiards played bowling. The short caught the attention and was issued on Saturday Night Live in 1987, two years later offered him a post screenwriter in that program. He also had a small role in Steven Spielberg's film, Empire of the Sun.

Stiller directed Reality Bites and The Cable Guy. Later, put aside his ambitions to lead to Participate in There's Something About Mary, who launched the careers of Stiller to the stratosphere. Another attempt was as director in 2001 with Zoolander which was fairly well received, which showed that it could be a star in front and behind the camera.

Although Stiller is best known for her roles in films, has appeared on several sitcom, the first in 1997 at Friends in the episode of gritón The 322 call in which to 'Tommy', the groom gritón Rachel. In recent years has made cameos in a series of remarkable success as Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm and the British sitcom Extras. Stiller appeared as an opposite version made in Arrested Development "Tony Wonder," the magician 'cool'.