Ben’s ‘rents: Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara

Ben Stiller was on with Howard Stern this Wednesday when the shock jock brought up Joan Rivers, who died in September.

“She had a thing about it. She didn’t like me. I’m glad you’re bringing this up. Because I never had an interaction with her.”

Robin Quivers said that Rivers held a grudge against Stiller because he “ignored her on the red carpet.”

“Oh, is that what it is?. Okay, this is helping me, because I didn’t understand why she didn’t like me. I mean, I can understand when someone doesn’t like me — whatever…you’re allowed to have your opinion. But she had a thing because she was friends with my parents.”

Stern told Stiller:

“That’s what she’d always say…She couldn’t understand it. She’d go, ‘I’m friends with Ben’s mother, and Ben should say hello to me, and he won’t say hello to me.’ And she was really ticked that you wouldn’t say hello to her.”

Stiller replied:

“See, this makes it all clear to me. First of all, I don’t remember that happening, but I’m sure it did. And then I heard there was a documentary or something, and [she was asked], ‘What do you think of Ben Stiller?’ [And she said], ‘Lucky’ or something. So then the beef started…

She was great. I feel bad that we never got to work that out. It is sad. My parents were really friends with her and spent a lot of time and worked together with her, and she had an amazing career.”

Something about this doesn’t ring true. Ben’s parents are actors Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller (George’s father on Seinfeld) and came up in the biz with Joan. Joan died back in September. You never asked Mom & Dad why Joan hated you? I’m surprised Stern didn’t call bulls*t. (via Us Weekly)