Mel Brooks

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

144

Gender

Male

Birthday

1926-06-28 (99 years old)

Place of Birth

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Mel Brooks

Biography

Melvin James Brooks (né Kaminsky; June 28, 1926) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker, and songwriter. With a career spanning over seven decades, he is known as a writer and director of a variety of successful broad farces and parodies. A recipient of numerous accolades, he is one of 21 entertainers to win the EGOT (which includes an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony). He received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2009, a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2010, the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2013, a British Film Institute Fellowship in 2015, a National Medal of Arts in 2016, a BAFTA Fellowship in 2017, and the Honorary Academy Award in 2024. Brooks began his career as a comic and a writer for Sid Caesar's variety show Your Show of Shows(1950–1954). There, he worked with Neil Simon, Woody Allen, Larry Gelbart, and Carl Reiner. With Reiner, he co-created the comedy sketch The 2000 Year Old Man. He released several comedy albums, starting with 2000 Year Old Man in 1960. Brooks received five nominations for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album, finally winning in 1999. With Buck Henry, he created the hit satirical spy comedy series Get Smart (1965–1970) on NBC television. Brooks won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Producers (1967). He then rose to prominence by directing a string of successful comedy films such as The Twelve Chairs (1970), Blazing Saddles (1974), Young Frankenstein (1974), Silent Movie (1976), and High Anxiety (1977). Later, Brooks made History of the World, Part I (1981), Spaceballs (1987), Life Stinks (1991), Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), and Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995). A musical adaptation of his first film, The Producers, ran on Broadway from 2001 to 2007 and earned Brooks three Tony Awards. The project was remade into a musical film in 2005. He wrote and produced the Hulu series History of the World, Part II (2023). Brooks was married to actress Anne Bancroft from 1964 until she died in 2005. Their son, Max Brooks, is an actor and author known for his novel World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War (2006). In 2021, Mel Brooks published his memoir titled All About Me!. Three of his films are included on the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 comedy films of the past 100 years (1900–2000), all of which were ranked in the top 15: Blazing Saddles at number 6, The Producers at number 11, and Young Frankenstein at number 13.

Known For

  • The Simpsons

    The Simpsons

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • Frasier

    Frasier

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm

    Curb Your Enthusiasm

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • Real Time with Bill Maher

    Real Time with Bill Maher

  • Golden Globe Awards

    Golden Globe Awards

  • Only Murders in the Building

    Only Murders in the Building

  • Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

  • Wogan

    Wogan

  • Great Performances

    Great Performances

  • Mad About You

    Mad About You

  • Champs-Elysées

    Champs-Elysées

  • The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

    The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

  • The Dick Cavett Show

    The Dick Cavett Show

  • Toy Story 4

    Toy Story 4

  • The Oscars

    The Oscars

  • Hotel Transylvania 2

    Hotel Transylvania 2

  • Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

    Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

  • Robots

    Robots

  • An Audience with...

    An Audience with...

  • Forky Asks a Question: What Is Love?

    Forky Asks a Question: What Is Love?

  • The Little Rascals

    The Little Rascals

  • To Tell the Truth

    To Tell the Truth

  • Spaceballs

    Spaceballs

  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

    Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

  • The Frank Skinner Show

    The Frank Skinner Show

  • Spaceballs 2

    Spaceballs 2

  • History of the World: Part II

    History of the World: Part II

  • Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

    Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

  • Ballerina

    Ballerina

  • Ballerina

    Ballerina

  • Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1980s, 1990s and 2000s

    Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1980s, 1990s and 2000s

  • Screw Loose

    Screw Loose

  • Mr. Peabody & Sherman

    Mr. Peabody & Sherman

  • Blazing Saddles

    Blazing Saddles

  • Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story

    Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story

  • RTL Samstag Nacht

    RTL Samstag Nacht

  • Robin Hood: Men in Tights

    Robin Hood: Men in Tights

  • Glenn Martin, DDS

    Glenn Martin, DDS

  • The Electric Company

    The Electric Company

  • The Sid Caesar Collection: Creating the Comedy

    The Sid Caesar Collection: Creating the Comedy

  • A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers

    A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers

  • The Automat

    The Automat

  • Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank

    Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank

  • If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast

    If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast

  • Young Frankenstein

    Young Frankenstein

  • Inside Comedy

    Inside Comedy

  • Dracula: Dead and Loving It

    Dracula: Dead and Loving It

  • Somebody Feed Phil

    Somebody Feed Phil

  • Enormous

    Enormous

  • John Candy: I Like Me

    John Candy: I Like Me

  • Life Stinks

    Life Stinks

  • History of the World: Part I

    History of the World: Part I

  • Primetime Glick

    Primetime Glick

  • The Hollywood Palace

    The Hollywood Palace

  • The Producers

    The Producers

  • Silent Movie

    Silent Movie

  • Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks

    Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks

  • Remembering Gene Wilder

    Remembering Gene Wilder

  • Legends

    Legends

  • Noel's House Party

    Noel's House Party

  • Sunset People

    Sunset People

  • The Muppet Movie

    The Muppet Movie

  • Please Turn the Page

    Please Turn the Page

  • To Be or Not to Be

    To Be or Not to Be

  • The Producers

    The Producers

  • High Anxiety

    High Anxiety

  • Mickey's 50

    Mickey's 50

  • Look Who's Talking Too

    Look Who's Talking Too

  • The Muppets Go Hollywood

    The Muppets Go Hollywood

  • Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

    Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

  • The Wonderful World of Disney

    The Wonderful World of Disney

  • Free to Be… You and Me

    Free to Be… You and Me

  • When Things Were Rotten

    When Things Were Rotten

  • From Darkness to Light

    From Darkness to Light

  • Hitler: The Comedy Years

    Hitler: The Comedy Years

  • It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie

    It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie

  • The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother

    The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother

  • The Last Laugh

    The Last Laugh

  • Spaceballs: The Animated Series

    Spaceballs: The Animated Series

  • Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s

    Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s

  • An Audience with Mel Brooks

    An Audience with Mel Brooks

  • The Land of Sometimes

    The Land of Sometimes

  • The Terrible Elephant Man Revealed

    The Terrible Elephant Man Revealed

  • The David Susskind Show

    The David Susskind Show

  • Free to Be... a Family

    Free to Be... a Family

  • Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

    Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

  • The Great Dictator: The Clown Turns Prophet

    The Great Dictator: The Clown Turns Prophet

  • The Silence of the Hams

    The Silence of the Hams

  • It's Always About the Story: Conversations with Alan Ladd, Jr.

    It's Always About the Story: Conversations with Alan Ladd, Jr.

  • The Making of 'The Producers'

    The Making of 'The Producers'

  • Untitled Lani Pixels Project

    Untitled Lani Pixels Project

  • Flick Flack

    Flick Flack

  • Frank Sinatra: The Voice of the Century

    Frank Sinatra: The Voice of the Century

  • The 2000 Year Old Man

    The 2000 Year Old Man

  • Spaceballs: The Documentary

    Spaceballs: The Documentary

  • Mel Brooks: Unwrapped

    Mel Brooks: Unwrapped

  • Back in the Saddle

    Back in the Saddle

  • In the Beginning: The Caesar Years

    In the Beginning: The Caesar Years

  • Making History: Mel Brooks on Creating the World

    Making History: Mel Brooks on Creating the World

  • Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies

    Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies

  • The Twelve Chairs

    The Twelve Chairs

  • Saturday Night Clive

    Saturday Night Clive

  • The Paul Reiser Show

    The Paul Reiser Show

  • Peeping Times

    Peeping Times

  • Mickey's Audition

    Mickey's Audition

  • Broadway: The American Musical

    Broadway: The American Musical

  • 'Robin Hood: Men in Tights' – The Legend Had It Coming

    'Robin Hood: Men in Tights' – The Legend Had It Coming

  • Mel Brooks Strikes Back!

    Mel Brooks Strikes Back!

  • Silent Laughter: The Reel Inspirations of 'Silent Movie'

    Silent Laughter: The Reel Inspirations of 'Silent Movie'

  • Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West

    Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West

  • John Candy: Comic Spirit

    John Candy: Comic Spirit

  • Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch

    Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch

  • Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

    Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

  • Spaceballs: The Totally Warped Animated Adventures

    Spaceballs: The Totally Warped Animated Adventures

  • Sex, Lies and Video Violence

    Sex, Lies and Video Violence

  • Caesar's Writers

    Caesar's Writers

  • Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic

    Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic

  • Ruby's Studio: the Feelings Show

    Ruby's Studio: the Feelings Show

  • Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic

    Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic

  • The Great Buster: A Celebration

    The Great Buster: A Celebration

  • Hitchcock and Mel: Spoofing the Master of Suspense

    Hitchcock and Mel: Spoofing the Master of Suspense

  • Recording the Producers: A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks

    Recording the Producers: A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks

  • The Grammys

    The Grammys

  • The Hanging of Stuart Cornfeld

    The Hanging of Stuart Cornfeld

  • The Critic

    The Critic

  • Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love

    Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love

  • It's Alive: The True Story of Frankenstein

    It's Alive: The True Story of Frankenstein

  • Paddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words

    Paddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words

  • The Sid Caesar Collection: Inside the Writer's Room

    The Sid Caesar Collection: Inside the Writer's Room

  • Excavating the 2000 Year Old Man

    Excavating the 2000 Year Old Man

  • Spaceballs: In Conversation - Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan

    Spaceballs: In Conversation - Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan

  • Mel Brooks: Live at the Geffen

    Mel Brooks: Live at the Geffen

  • Flower of the Dawn

    Flower of the Dawn

  • The Dick Cavett Show with Mel Brooks

    The Dick Cavett Show with Mel Brooks

  • Annie: The Women in the Life of a Man

    Annie: The Women in the Life of a Man

  • Sid Caesar Collection: Buried Treasures - The Legend of Sid Caesar

    Sid Caesar Collection: Buried Treasures - The Legend of Sid Caesar

  • Musical Mel: Inventing The Inquisition

    Musical Mel: Inventing The Inquisition

  • Mel Brooks: The Genius Entertainer

    Mel Brooks: The Genius Entertainer

  • Life Stinks: Does Life Really Stink?

    Life Stinks: Does Life Really Stink?

  • Mel Brooks: Seriously... Well, Almost

    Mel Brooks: Seriously... Well, Almost

  • Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again

    Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again

  • David Lynch: The Idea Dictates Everything

    David Lynch: The Idea Dictates Everything