The cast of The King of Queens honors the memory of their late co-star Jerry Stiller in a special reunion commemorating the show's 25th anniversary
"Series co-creator and executive producer Michael Weithorn stated, 'He truly embodied the heart and soul of the show.
The members of The King of Queens ensemble are honoring the memory of their departed colleague, Jerry Stiller.
In honor of the 25th anniversary of the sitcom, Kevin James, Leah Remini, Gary Valentine, Victor Williams, Patton Oswalt, and other cast members came together for a special event. They engaged in a table read, held a Q&A session, and paid tribute to the late Stiller, who passed away at the age of 92 in 2020. As a heartfelt gesture, they presented a touching video chronicling Stiller's life, featuring his son Ben, his daughter Amy, along with Ray Romano, Ricki Lake, and others.
Ben expressed that his father's passion for his craft defined his existence, saying, "Acting was his fountain of youth, his driving force, and the bond he shared with his fellow actors on [The King of Queens] meant the world to him."
Romano shared, "I first met Jerry Stiller on The King of Queens. The most exhilarating part was encountering Jerry Stiller, my favorite character. Kevin James — incredibly funny! Really hilarious! But unquestionably, Jerry Stiller was my beloved character on the show."
As the video played, many cast members were visibly moved, wiping away tears. Upon its conclusion, series co-creator and executive producer Michael Weithorn acknowledged that reuniting the cast was a beautiful experience, yet it carried a tinge of sadness without Stiller present."
"He embodied the essence of the show in such a tangible way," he expressed. "He provided us with a solid foundation. As a seasoned professional, both on and off camera, he brought a wealth of experience and expertise that we all drew from, enriching the depth of the show. He lived a full, substantial life, but no matter how rich and long a life one leads, the absence is profoundly felt when they're gone. It's almost surreal to think they're no longer with us. We can't pop into New York and drop by Jerry's place on Riverside Drive to ask, 'How are you?' It's truly... he was a remarkable, remarkable man, and he played a pivotal role in the reason we're all here, doing this now. It wouldn't have been possible without him."
Remini, who portrayed the lead character Carrie, remembered Stiller as being "the father figure" of the show, both in reality and symbolically. Stiller took on the role of Carrie's father, Arthur, who frequently butted heads with his son-in-law Doug (James).
"Jerry could have shot his first scene and they'd say, 'You're free to go. You don't have to stick around all night during filming,' but he'd stay," she recounted. "Jerry understood that most people who came to the show wanted to meet Jerry. They'd get our autographs, take a picture, and then ask, 'Is Jerry around? Is Jerry here?' Because he'd engage with everyone."
Remini went on to say, "He'd chat with you because he genuinely loved people, and he exuded such grace in doing so. He was just that person who was eager to share countless stories with you."
James chimed in, emphasizing that Stiller always "cared deeply" about everyone on set. He recalled an incident where the comedian helped nurse him back to health when he fell ill during filming. After describing his symptoms, James recounted how Stiller advised him to 'lie down' and 'lift up your shirt,' then placed his warm hands on his stomach.
"I thought he'd do the typical thing where he'd move my stomach around a bit and then leave. But he stayed there for an uncomfortably long, very long time, just looking right into my eyes, and I didn't know what to do," James humorously reminisced. "I was just staring at him and, honestly, a minute passed with complete silence and his hands were warm. Then he took them off, and I don't know if it was a placebo effect or if I just wanted him to stop, but I instantly felt better and was able to continue with the show."
James shared, "He insisted on being there because he genuinely cared — the moment he found out, he didn't give a second thought to the doctors or anyone else. He wanted to be by [my] side. I ache for him terribly. He truly was exceptional. Just like Ben said, 'Many only see him for his antics.' They remember him as the grumpy old man, always shouting and fussing, but that wasn't the real him. He was an absolute gem. A remarkable man."
Gary Valentine, known for his role as Doug's cousin Danny Heffernan, disclosed that even after the show concluded in 2007, Stiller made sure the entire cast and crew received holiday gifts and cards. "Every Christmas, receiving a card and a tie from him... I never even thought of giving him a Christmas gift, and here he was, giving me one," he shared. "He was just such a delightful soul."
Victor Williams, who portrayed Doug's friend Deacon Palmer, chimed in, "I recall the show had wrapped, and years later, still getting cards from Jerry was extraordinary."
Patton Oswalt, the actor behind Doug's buddy Spencer "Spence" Olchin, remembered how effortlessly Stiller could send the audience into fits of laughter with his impeccable delivery.
"In an early episode, there's a scene where he walks into the kitchen, Kevin's there, and his line is just 'Good morning, Douglas,'" he recounted. "It's not a punchline — they're just starting a conversation — and that line garnered such a massive laugh. The way he delivered it, with complete abandon. It actually got such a laugh that it disrupted the rhythm, and they had to redo the beginning [and] almost signal to the audience, without actually saying it, like, 'Hey, don't laugh at that line.' He could elicit laughs with just a 'hello!' I have no idea how he did it. It was extraordinary."
Remini added that Stiller frequently brought laughter to the set by dramatically shutting his eyes and clapping his hands during takes. "Jerry would open his eyes and ask, 'What's so funny?'" she recalled. "And we'd reply, 'You, Jerry, you!'
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