Anne Meara was born on September 20, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York City, to Irish-American parents Mary and Edward Joseph Meara. She grew up in Rockville Centre, Long Island, raised in a Roman Catholic household.

Her mother died by suicide when Anne was 11 years old, a tragic event that marked her childhood. She began studying acting at 18 at the Dramatic Workshop at The New School and later at HB Studio under Uta Hagen in Manhattan.

She met actor-comedian Jerry Stiller in 1953, and the couple married a year later. Their partnership became a defining element of both their personal and professional lives.

Anne Meara rose to fame as half of the comedy duo "Stiller and Meara," which became widely popular in the 1960s. The pair was known for their witty, domestic-themed routines on "The Ed Sullivan Show" with 36 appearances and other notable television programs including "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." Their 1963 live album became a hit, and they were considered one of the leading comedy teams of their era.

However, by 1970 they discontinued their act to preserve their marriage, as the boundaries between their professional and personal lives became increasingly blurred.

Aside from her comedy with Stiller, she developed a successful acting career with notable television roles such as Sally Gallagher on "Rhoda," and Veronica Rooney, the cook on "Archie Bunker’s Place" during its first three seasons from 1979 to 1982.

She starred in her own CBS series "Kate McShane" in 1975, for which she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress, although the show was canceled after ten episodes. Other television appearances included recurring roles on "Sex and the City" and "The King of Queens," where she appeared alongside her husband in later years.

She also appeared in films such as "Fame" (1980) and was active in theater, including writing the off-Broadway play "After-Play" in 1995.

Her work earned her four Emmy Award nominations over her career, and she won a Writers Guild Award for co-writing the television movie "The Other Woman." Anne Meara was a respected figure in comedy and acting, known for her sharp wit, strong stage presence, and versatility across mediums.

She converted to Judaism six years after marrying Jerry Stiller, a faith she embraced deeply. The couple had two children, including the actor and filmmaker Ben Stiller. Anne Meara passed away on May 23, 2015, at age 85 in Manhattan, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering comedian and beloved actress.