Anne Meara, 85; comedian and actress had long career

LOS ANGELES - Actress and comedian Anne Meara, 85, whose comic work with her husband, Jerry Stiller, helped launch a 60-year career in film and TV, has died.

Her husband and son, actor Ben Stiller, said Ms. Meara died Saturday. No other details were provided.

The family released a statement to the Associated Press on Sunday describing Jerry Stiller as Ms. Meara's "husband and partner in life."

"The two were married for 61 years and worked together almost as long," the statement said.

The couple performed as Stiller & Meara on The Ed Sullivan Show and other programs in the 1960s and won awards for the radio and TV commercials they made together. Ms. Meara also appeared in dozens of films and TV shows, including a longtime role on All My Children and recurring appearances on Rhoda, Alf, Sex and the City, and The King of Queens. She shared the screen with her son in 2006's Night at the Museum.

Ms. Meara was twice nominated for an Emmy Award for her supporting role on Archie Bunker's Place, along with two other Emmy nods, most recently in 1997 for her guest-starring role on Homicide.

She won a Writers Guild Award for cowriting the 1983 TV movie The Other Woman.

Besides her husband and son, Ms. Meara is survived by her daughter, Amy, and several grandchildren.

The family statement said: "Anne's memory lives on in the hearts of daughter Amy, son Ben, her grandchildren, her extended family and friends, and the millions she entertained as an actress, writer and comedienne."