The Best Ben Stiller Characters

Updated May 1, 2024 40 items

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2.0K votes

226 voters

1 reranks

An acclaimed comedian, actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, Ben Stiller is a tour de force. He's one of the most versatile actors today with a vast filmography that includes a surprising mix of comedies, dramas, coming-of-age stories, and more. Which of his characters is your favorite?

He landed his first role in the 1987 comedy Hot Pursuit, where he played high school student Chris Honeywell opposite John Cusack. After a handful of minor roles in the late '80s and early '90s, he transitioned to directorial duties and made his directorial debut with 1994's Reality Bites.

Switching between being behind and being in front of the camera, Ben has immortalized a handful of memorable characters, including Ted Stroehmann in There's Something About Mary and Gaylord Focker in the hilarious Meet the Parents franchise. He's also played outlandish characters, including acclaimed male model Derek Zoolander, pseudo-superhero Mr. Furious in Mystery Men, and Hal, a psychotic nursing home assistant in Happy Gilmore.

Vote up the best Ben Stiller characters to see which performance was his most memorable.

Most divisive: David Starsky

Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of Ben Stiller Characters

1
111 votes
White Goodman
Movie: DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
Year: 2004
2
132 votes
Derek Zoolander
Movies: Zoolander, Zoolander 2
Years: 2001, 2016
3
96 votes
Larry Daley
Movies: Night at the Museum, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
Years: 2006, 2009, 2014
4
115 votes
Gaylord Focker
Movies: Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers, Little Fockers
Years: 2000, 2004, 2010
5
97 votes
Tugg Speedman
Movie: Tropic Thunder
Year: 2008
6
101 votes
Hal L
Movie: Happy Gilmore
Year: 1996
7
108 votes
Alex the Lion
Movies: Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
Years: 2005, 2008, 2012
8
75 votes
Tony Perkis
Movie: Heavyweights
Year: 1995
9
73 votes
Ted Stroehmann
Movie: There's Something About Mary
Year: 1998
10
63 votes
Walter Mitty
Movie: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Year: 2013

11
54 votes
David Starsky
Movie: Starsky & Hutch
Year: 2004
12
52 votes
Mr. Furious
Movie: Mystery Men
Year: 1999
13
38 votes
Josh Kovaks
Movie: Tower Heist
Year: 2011
14
53 votes
Chas Tenenbaum
Movie: The Royal Tenenbaums
Year: 2001
15
46 votes
Reuben Feffer
Movie: Along Came Polly
Year: 2004
16
36 votes
Lonnie
Movie: School for Scoundrels
Year: 2006
17
52 votes
Sam Sweet
Movie: The Cable Guy
Year: 1996
18
45 votes
Michael Grates
Movie: Reality Bites
Year: 1994
19
38 votes
Rabbi Jake Schram
Movie: Keeping the Faith
Year: 2000
20
45 votes
Dainty
Movie: Empire of the Sun
Year: 1987