“He’s Still Young and Incredibly Energetic”: Ben Stiller Praises Robert De Niro 26 Years After They First Met

Twenty-six years after the release of the comedy Meet the Parents, Ben Stiller has fondly reflected on his long-standing friendship with Robert De Niro, admitting that he still marvels at his co-star's energy, youthful spirit and extraordinary vitality.

The 60-year-old actor shared his thoughts at the New York premiere of Focker-in-Law on November 11. The new film marks the fourth instalment in the popular comedy franchise, bringing Stiller and De Niro together on screen once again.

“It's interesting, as you come back to these movies over the years, to see how you grow along with your characters and how their lives change,” Stiller told Extra.

In the original 2000 comedy, Stiller played Greg Focker, who meets the parents of his girlfriend, Pam (Teri Polo), including her intimidating father, Jack Byrnes, played by De Niro.

In the latest instalment, the roles are reversed. Greg now finds himself in the position of a father-in-law when his son (Skyler Gisondo) brings home his girlfriend (Ariana Grande).

“Now Greg is pretty much the age Jack was when they first met, and he's in a similar situation. It's strange. It's just incredible. I feel like, inside, I'm still the same person,” Stiller admitted.

There is another interesting detail: when the first film was released, De Niro was around 57. Stiller is now 60, meaning he is older than his legendary co-star was when they made the original movie.

Yet when Stiller looks at the 83-year-old De Niro, he sees no sign of age.

“I look at Bob and see how energetic and young he is. He's really still the same Bob. I guess that's what life is all about,” Stiller said.

He also admitted that his perspective on his co-star has changed over the years, particularly now that he has reached the age De Niro was when they first worked together.

Reflecting on their relationship, Stiller stressed that decades of working together have turned them into genuine friends.

“He's still Robert De Niro, and I'm still Ben. But he's an incredibly warm, kind and loyal person. He's a true friend to the people he loves and those he's close to. He's very generous, and there are a lot of people in his circle who know that. I'm happy we have this connection, and I'm always glad to see him,” the actor said.

De Niro himself said at the premiere that he was delighted to reunite with his co-stars after such a long break.

Focker-in-Law is set to hit cinemas on November 25, 2026.