The Sunday Magazine

Stiller & Meara

Anne Meara, who died on Saturday at the age of 85, was half of one of the most successful male-female comedy acts of all time. Jerry Stiller was her comedic partner, and her husband for 61 years. Stiller & Meara made hundreds of appearances on-stage and on TV throughout the 60's and 70's. We play perhaps their best-known skit, "Computer Dating", based on their own relationship. She - tall, Irish and Catholic; he - short and Jewish.
Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller at the premiere of their son Ben Stiller's film "Meet the Fockers" in Los Angeles December 16, 2004. Anne Meara died on May 23, 2015, at the age of 85. (Fred Prouser/Reuters)

Anne Meara, half of one of the most successful male-female comedy teams of all time, died last week at the age of 85. Her comedic partner and husband of 61 years, was Jerry Stiller. She was tall, Irish and Catholic. He was short and Jewish. Their cultural differences formed the basis of one of their best-known comedy routines, written for an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, which they performed in 1966. It was called "Computer Dating."

On May 29, 1970, Jerry Stiller, right, and Anne Meara, center, appear with host Ed Sullivan. (Credit: Associated Press)
For more laughs from these two comedic dynamos click here to hear two more sketches they performed on The Ed Sullivan Show: "The Last Two People on Earth" and "TV Commercials".