Anne Meara
A whip-smart comedienne who, with her husband, perfected the art of the bickering couple sketch and later revealed a stunning dramatic range.
1929–2015 (age 86)·American comedian and actress·Birthday: September 20·The Silent Generation
Biography
Anne Meara's comedy was born in the smoke-filled clubs of 1960s New York, where she and her husband Jerry Stiller formed one of the era's most beloved acts. Stiller and Meara weren't just a duo; they were a phenomenon, crafting routines around the everyday frustrations of a long-married, archetypically New York couple. Her tall, deadpan delivery played perfectly against Stiller's explosive exasperation, making them staples on 'The Ed Sullivan Show.' But Meara was far more than half of a team. She built a formidable solo career, revealing a piercing dramatic talent in plays like 'The House of Blue Leaves' and earning a Tony nomination. On television, she shifted seamlessly from sitcom mom on 'Archie Bunker's Place' to a tough-talking detective on 'Law & Order.' Her later years saw her become a respected playwright, proving her wit was as sharp on the page as it was on stage.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Anne was born in 1929, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anne Was Born
The biggest hits of 1929
#1 Movie
The Broadway Melody
Best Picture
The Broadway Melody
Anne's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1929Born
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1934Started school
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1942Became a teenager
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1945Could drive
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1947Could vote
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Turned 21
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1959Turned 30
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 40
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 50
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 60
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 70
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 80
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2015Died at 86
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
Key Achievements
- Formed the legendary comedy team Stiller and Meara with her husband Jerry Stiller, performing classic sketches on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' over 30 times.
- Nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role in John Guare's 'The House of Blue Leaves.'
- Won a Writers Guild Award for co-writing the television movie 'The Other Woman.'
- Earned four Emmy Award nominations for her television work, including for 'Archie Bunker's Place' and 'The Ed Sullivan Show.'
Did You Know?
She and Jerry Stiller's comedy sketches were often based on their real-life conversations and disagreements.
She was of Irish Catholic descent, which frequently informed the characters she played in their act.
She met Jerry Stiller in 1953 at an agent's office where they were both waiting to be seen.
She voiced a character on the animated series 'The Mighty B!' which was created by her daughter-in-law, Amy Stiller.
“Comedy is the ultimate revenge. Not only do you get back at the world, you get a round of applause.”
