Ben Stiller’s ‘Zoolander’ Co-star Marked a Career “High Point”

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Over his forty-year career, Ben Stiller has worked with many incredibly talented actors, including Robert De Niro, Gene Hackman, Jennifer Aniston, and Snoop Dogg. However, in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Stiller revealed that working on his 2001 comedy Zoolander, where he played Derek Zoolander, was the most memorable experience for him.

The movie Zoolander features a cameo from music legend David Bowie, where he judges the famous walk-off between Derek Zoolander and Hansel McDonald. He wasn’t the only celebrity to make a brief appearance; Victoria Beckham, Paris Hilton, Natalie Portman, Donald Trump, Gwen Stefani, and Winona Ryder all pop up in the film. Ben Stiller later shared his thoughts on working with Bowie, who sadly passed away in 2016 at the age of 69.

Working with him was a true highlight of my career. He was incredibly kind, sophisticated, and everyone on set was just amazed by him. I was thrilled he agreed to participate. He had a wonderful sense of humor and didn’t take himself too seriously, and I’m very grateful for the time I spent with him. His appearance really elevated our film and gave it a lot of weight. It’s a moment I’ll always cherish.

David Bowie’s Movie Highlights


Tri-Star Pictures

David Bowie is best known for his music, having sold over 100 million records globally, but he also had a significant film career. One of his most memorable roles was as the alien Thomas Jerome Newton in the 1976 film The Man Who Fell to Earth, directed by Nicolas Roeg, who was also known for the classic horror film Don’t Look Now.

Many remember him fondly for a charming live-action introduction to the animated classic The Snowman, where he played an adult remembering a special Christmas from his childhood. He quickly followed that with a role in The Hunger, a sensual vampire film directed by Tony Scott early in his career (Scott later became known for films like Top Gun and True Romance). He continued to build an impressive filmography with movies like Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ, David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, and Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige.

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David Bowie truly shined in Jim Henson’s 1986 film, Labyrinth. Playing the Goblin King Jareth, Bowie got to showcase his incredible voice in five songs: “Underground”, “Magic Dance”, “Chilly Down”, “As the World Falls Down”, and “Within You.” Surrounded by puppets and alongside Jennifer Connelly, he was a captivating and mysterious presence.

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2026-02-07 20:47