Ben Stiller tweets thanks 'for all the kinds words' about late mom Anne Meara

Actor-director Ben Stiller, son of actress and comedy icon Anne Meara, expressed gratitude on Monday for the outpouring of tributes to his late mother, who died Saturday at age 85.

"Thank you so much for all the kind words about Anne," tweeted Stiller, 49, who was photographed with his actress wife, Christine Taylor, on Sunday in Rome, where he is filming "Zoolander 2." "All of us in our family feel so lucky to have had her in our lives."

Ben Stiller and his actress sister Amy Stiller, 53, are the children of Meara, who was born in Brooklyn and raised in Rockville Centre, and her husband, comedy legend Jerry Stiller.

Manhasset's David Eigenberg, her on-screen son Steve Brady on "Sex and the City," tweeted, "I say goodnight to the amazing . . . and profoundly talented lady Anne Meara. I was privileged to be her TV son." Mineola-born and Stony Brook-raised Kevin James, star of "The King of Queens," on which Meara played the mother of Patton Oswalt's character, called her "an incredible talent. I'm so thankful for the time I had with you and Jerry. You and your family are in my prayers." Oswalt himself wrote, "You were fun to work with and hilarious from the get go."

Her friend Doris Roberts, who played Marie Barone on "Everybody Loves Raymond," wrote that, "In addition to being a great and fun friend, Anne Meara was a wonderful actress and legendary comedienne. Whenever I was with her, she made me laugh. I'll miss that. I'll miss her."

Among the many other stars who tweeted condolences were Samuel L. Jackson, who wrote, "I did 2 films with Anne Meara, a lovely, gracious & Funny Lady. We lost one of the Good Ones! RIP Ms Anne." Edgy comic Sarah Silverman said, "I had the honor of meeting Anne Meara a few times. It was a life highlight. RIP," while Sandra Bernhard tweeted a virtual toast: "One more time for the great Anne Meara."