Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks (born June 28, 1926) is an American actor, writer and director, best known as a creator of broad film farces and parodies.

Born Melvin Kaminsky in Brooklyn, New York, Brooks served in the US Army during World War II as an engineer. He started out in show business as a stand-up comic before becoming a comedy writer for television, working on Your Show of Shows. In 1961, with Carl Reiner, he created the persona of the 2000 Year Old Man, a collection of ad libbed comedy routines made into a series of comedy records. With Buck Henry, he created the successful TV series Get Smart. He later moved into film, working as an actor, director, writer and producer. Among his most popular films have been Young Frankenstein (co-written with Gene Wilder) and Blazing Saddles, both of which were released in 1974. Brooks developed a repertory company of sorts for his film work: performers with three or more Brooks films to their credit include Wilder, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman and, of course, Brooks himself.

His most recent success has been a transfer of his film, The Producers, to the Broadway stage.

In 1980 Brooks became interested in producing the film "The Elephant Man" directed by David Lynch. Knowing that anyone seeing the poster with 'Mel Brooks presents The Elephant Man' would go along expecting a comedy he set up the company Brooksfilm to produce the film. Brooksfilm has since produced a number of non-comedy films.

Brooks is one of a select group who have received an Oscar, Emmy (as both an actor and writer), Tony and Grammy. Married to actress Anne Bancroft, and the father of Max, he owns homes on both coasts. He is currently working on a sequel to Spaceballs.

Selected filmography

  • The Producers (1968) (writer, director; Academy Award, best original screenplay)
  • The Twelve Chairs (1970) (writer, director, actor)
  • Young Frankenstein (1974) (co-writer, director)
  • Blazing Saddles (1974) (writer, director, actor)
  • Silent Movie (1976) (writer, director, actor)
  • High Anxiety (1978) (writer, director, actor)
  • History of the World, Part I (1981) (writer, director, actor)
  • To Be or Not to Be (1983) (actor)
  • Spaceballs (1987) (writer, director, actor)
  • Life Stinks (1991) (writer, director, actor)
  • Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) (writer, director, actor)
  • Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995) (writer, director, actor)

This page about Mel Brooks includes information from a Wikipedia article.
Additional articles about Mel Brooks
News stories about Mel Brooks
External links for Mel Brooks
Videos for Mel Brooks
Wikis about Mel Brooks
Discussion Groups about Mel Brooks
Blogs about Mel Brooks
Images of Mel Brooks

He is currently working on a sequel to Spaceballs. James Caviezel is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Married to actress Anne Bancroft, and the father of Max, he owns homes on both coasts. Often credited as Jim Caviezel, he is married to Kerri, a teacher. Brooks is one of a select group who have received an Oscar, Emmy (as both an actor and writer), Tony and Grammy. He is a fan of the Minnesota Vikings. Knowing that anyone seeing the poster with 'Mel Brooks presents The Elephant Man' would go along expecting a comedy he set up the company Brooksfilm to produce the film. Brooksfilm has since produced a number of non-comedy films. In 2004, he took the role of Jesus in Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ".

In 1980 Brooks became interested in producing the film "The Elephant Man" directed by David Lynch. He is often credited as "Jim Caviezel". His most recent success has been a transfer of his film, The Producers, to the Broadway stage. James Patrick Caviezel (born September 26, 1968 in Mount Vernon, Washington) is a movie actor with a wide variety of film roles to his credit. Brooks developed a repertory company of sorts for his film work: performers with three or more Brooks films to their credit include Wilder, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman and, of course, Brooks himself. My Own Private Idaho (1991). Among his most popular films have been Young Frankenstein (co-written with Gene Wilder) and Blazing Saddles, both of which were released in 1974. Diggstown (1992).

He later moved into film, working as an actor, director, writer and producer. Wyatt Earp (1994). With Buck Henry, he created the successful TV series Get Smart. Ed (1996). In 1961, with Carl Reiner, he created the persona of the 2000 Year Old Man, a collection of ad libbed comedy routines made into a series of comedy records. The Rock (1996). He started out in show business as a stand-up comic before becoming a comedy writer for television, working on Your Show of Shows. Jane (1997).

Born Melvin Kaminsky in Brooklyn, New York, Brooks served in the US Army during World War II as an engineer. G.I. Mel Brooks (born June 28, 1926) is an American actor, writer and director, best known as a creator of broad film farces and parodies. The Thin Red Line (1998). Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995) (writer, director, actor). Ride with the Devil (1999). Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) (writer, director, actor). Frequency (2000).

Life Stinks (1991) (writer, director, actor). Pay It Forward (2000). Spaceballs (1987) (writer, director, actor). Madison (2001). To Be or Not to Be (1983) (actor). Angel Eyes (2001). History of the World, Part I (1981) (writer, director, actor). The Count of Monte Cristo (2002).

High Anxiety (1978) (writer, director, actor). High Crimes (2002). Silent Movie (1976) (writer, director, actor). I Am David (2003). Blazing Saddles (1974) (writer, director, actor). Highwaymen (2003). Young Frankenstein (1974) (co-writer, director). The Final Cut (2004).

The Twelve Chairs (1970) (writer, director, actor). The Passion of the Christ (2004). The Producers (1968) (writer, director; Academy Award, best original screenplay).