This was truly an unforgettable moment.
Ben Stiller shared that his experience working with David Bowie in the 2001 film *Zoolander* stands out as a major highlight of his career.
“I’ve collaborated with many talented individuals, but those moments spent with him really rank among the top,” the 60-year-old actor reflected. He added, “He was incredibly generous, just so classy. You could feel that everyone on set was in awe.”
Bowie, who passed away in 2016, made a special appearance in the movie, which tells the story of the quirky male model Derek Zoolander, played by Stiller.
In the film, Bowie portrayed himself as a judge for a runway “walk-off” between Derek and another model, Hansel McDonald, played by Owen Wilson.
“When he agreed to do it, I was in disbelief,” Stiller recalled. “But he had an amazing sense of humor and was so self-deprecating. I feel really fortunate to have shared some time with him.”
Bowie’s presence in the film also helped elevate its status.
“Having him in that scene lent a lot of credibility to our film,” Stiller said. “So those moments with him were certainly a highlight of my career.”
Recently, fans have been eagerly awaiting Stiller’s upcoming sequel to *Meet the Parents*, titled *Focker In-Law*.
The original *Meet the Parents* came out in 2000 and included a star-studded cast featuring Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, Nicole DeHuff, Blythe Danner, Owen Wilson, Dustin Hoffman, and Barbra Streisand.
The sequel, *Meet the Fockers*, was released in 2004, followed by *Little Fockers* in 2010.
Now, *Focker In-Law* will bring a fresh addition to the cast: Ariana Grande.
As reported, the story involves Stiller and Polo’s characters’ son getting engaged to a woman with a vibrant personality, played by Grande.
Alongside Stiller and Polo, De Niro, Wilson, and Danner are set to reprise their roles.
“It’s exciting to have her unique energy added to this long-standing series, especially since it’s been a while since we’ve done it,” Stiller remarked. “She’s exceptionally professional, and I’m looking forward to seeing her performance. She has a great grasp of comedy, and working with her was really enjoyable. I think what she brought to this film adds a fresh perspective that fits well with its tone.”
In June, Streisand expressed her frustration regarding the paychecks from *Meet the Fockers* and *Little Fockers*, hinting that she might not return to the franchise.
“It was quite upsetting,” she said. “They had to compensate me significantly because I wasn’t receiving the same salary as others. So, yeah, I was angry.”
Sources from 2011 highlighted the differences in pay, noting Stiller and De Niro each received $20 million for *Little Fockers*, Wilson got $15 million, and Hoffman earned around $7.5 million. In contrast, Streisand’s share was only $7 million.
“At that point, women were often paid less than men,” she recalled. “The head of Universal back then, Ron Meyer, even sent me a bonus check. He was really kind.”
In the *Meet the Parents* series, Streisand played Rosalyn Focker, the quirky mother of Stiller’s character, often clashing with De Niro’s character, Jack.
When informed about Grande’s involvement, Streisand jokingly commented, “I’m just kidding.”
