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Ben Stiller: Joan Rivers and I Never Made Amends Before Her Death, “She Didn’t Like Me”

Ben Stiller and Joan Rivers
Ben Stiller spoke with Howard Stern about his feud with Joan Rivers, saying it was "sad" they didn't make up before her death in 2014

Water under the bridge. Joan Rivers wasn't shy about her dislike for fellow comedian Ben Stiller — she once called him an "arrogant, lucky guy" — and though they never got a chance to make amends before her death last year, he says he has no hard feelings about their years-old rift.

The Zoolander 2 actor, 49, was chatting with Howard Stern on Wednesday, March 25, when the shock jock brought up the late Fashion Police host, who died at age 81 in September.

Related: PHOTOS: Joan's life and career

"She had a thing about it. She didn't like me," Stiller admitted. "I'm glad you're bringing this up. Because I never had an interaction with her."

That may have been part of the problem. According to Stern and his SiriusXM co-host Robin Quivers, Rivers held a grudge against the Tropic Thunder star because he "ignored her on the red carpet."

Related: PHOTOS: Celeb tributes to Joan Rivers

"Oh, is that what it is?" he asked. "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."

(Like Rivers, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara rose to fame in the comedy world in the 1960s and '70s.)

Related: PHOTOS: The biggest celeb feuds ever

"That's what she'd always say…She couldn't understand it," Stern told the actor. "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."

"See, this makes it all clear to me," Stiller replied. "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."

Related: PHOTOS: Stars we lost last year

(Indeed, Rivers dissed the star in her 2010 documentary Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work. She also told Stern that same year that she didn't think Stiller was funny. "I've met him several times, and he's very arrogant," she said at the time.)

"So then the beef started," Stiller explained. He clarified, though, that he has nothing but respect for her long, storied career. "She was great. I feel bad that we never got to work that out," he shared. "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." Click here for In Memoriam Pics of Joan Rivers.

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