Emotional 25th Anniversary Reunion: 'The King of Queens' Cast Honors Beloved Jerry Stiller in Touching Tribute
The beloved cast of 'The King of Queens' reunites to honor the show's 25th anniversary and pay heartfelt tribute to the late Jerry Stiller, their cherished co-star who passed away in 2020
Pictured above are actress Leah Remini and actors Kevin James and Jerry Stiller at the celebration of the 200th episode of the television show "King of Queens". The event took place on January 25, 2007, at Sony Studios in Culver City, California. Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
The King of Queens cast gathered together on Tuesday, October 10th, to celebrate the show's 25th anniversary and pay tribute to their late costar, Jerry Stiller. Kevin James, Leah Remini, Gary Valentine, Victor Williams, Patton Oswalt, and Ray Romano shared their heartfelt memories of Stiller during the reunion. The beloved sitcom originally premiered in September 1998.
James, aged 58 and known for his role as Doug Heffernan, expressed his deep longing for Stiller, referring to him as an angel and a remarkable individual. Stiller, who played the character of Arthur Spooner, the widowed father of Carrie, portrayed by Remini, had an illustrious acting career that lasted for 60 years until his passing at the age of 92 in May 2020.
Remini, aged 53, portrayed Doug's wife and fondly recalled how Stiller would stay on the set long after his scenes ended, just to personally welcome and engage with fans.
"Jerry was aware that the majority of people who attended the show had a strong desire to meet him," she reminisced. "They would acquire our picture, have the script signed, and then eagerly inquire, 'Is Jerry present? Is he here?' This was because he made it a point to speak to each and every one of them."
Remini was impressed by Stiller's ability to constantly keep the entire cast entertained during breaks by closing his eyes and clapping his hands.
"When Jerry opened his eyes, he would inquire, 'What's the reason for the laughter?'" she recounted. "And we'd joyfully respond, 'It's you, Jerry, it's all because of you!'"
The sitcom The King of Queens aired on CBS from September 1998 to May 2007, spanning nine seasons and consisting of 207 episodes.
During the recent reunion, Ben Stiller, son of Stiller, also made an appearance. He acknowledged that acting was what kept his father young and motivated, and the strong bond he shared with his co-stars on The King of Queens meant a great deal to him.
The dynamic duo starred in multiple movies together, such as Zoolander, Heavyweights, Hot Pursuit, The Heartbreak Kid, and Zoolander 2.
At 65 years old, Romano occasionally made guest appearances on The King of Queens as his beloved character Raymond Barone from Everybody Loves Raymond. He reminisced about his initial experience working with Jerry on the set.
Romano expressed his excitement about meeting Jerry Stiller, whom he considered his favorite character. He emphasized that while Kevin James was undeniably funny, Jerry Stiller held a special place in his heart as the standout character on the show. The reunion was an emotional affair, with tears flowing, as series cocreator and executive producer Michael Weithorn praised Jerry Stiller as the heart of The King of Queens.
"He truly personified the essence of the show," he expressed. "He provided stability and a sense of experience both on and off camera, which immensely influenced and enriched our production."
Weithorn, at the age of 66, further conveyed, "He possessed a remarkable inner and outer beauty, and we owe our presence here, engaged in this very work, entirely to him. Without him, none of this would have come to fruition."
In this article
Ben Stiller
Gary Valentine
jerry stiller
Kevin James
