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IMDbPro

Mel Brooks

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000154
Mel Brooks
IMDb takes a closer look at the notable work of actor Mel Brooks in this retrospective of his illustrious career.
Play clip1:57
Mel Brooks Career Retrospective
39 Videos
99+ Photos
Mel Brooks was born Melvin Kaminsky on June 28, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York. He served in WWII, and afterwards got a job playing the drums at nightclubs in the Catskills. Brooks eventually started a comedy act and also worked in radio and as Master Entertainer at Grossinger's Resort before going to television.

He was a writer for, Your Show of Shows (1950) Caesar's Hour (1954) and wrote the Broadway show Shinbone Alley. He also worked in the creation of The 2000 Year Old Man (1975) and Get Smart (1965) before embarking on a highly successful film career in writing, acting, producing and directing.

Brooks is famous for the spoofs of different film genres that he made such as Blazing Saddles (1974), History of the World: Part I (1981), Silent Movie (1976), Young Frankenstein (1974), Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), High Anxiety (1977), Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995), and Spaceballs (1987).
BornJune 28, 1926
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornJune 28, 1926
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000154
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 33 wins & 42 nominations total

    Photos292

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    Known for

    Mel Brooks, Bill Pullman, John Candy, Rick Moranis, and Daphne Zuniga in Spaceballs (1987)
    Spaceballs
    7.1
    • President Skroob
    • Yogurt
    • 1987
    Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman, and Nathan Lane in The Producers (2005)
    The Producers
    6.4
    • Hilda the Pigeon
    • Tom the Cat(voice)
    • 2005
    History of the World: Part I (1981)
    History of the World: Part I
    6.8
    • Moses
    • Comicus
    • Torquemada
    • Jacques
    • King Louis XVI
    • 1981
    Mel Brooks and Cleavon Little in Blazing Saddles (1974)
    Blazing Saddles
    7.7
    • Governor Lepetomane
    • Indian Chief
    • 1974

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actor



    • The Land of Sometimes
      • (voice)
      • In Production
      • 2025
    • Flower of the Dawn
      • Bürgermeister
      • Completed
    • Enormous
      • Bernie
      • In Production
      • Short



    • Untitled Lani Pixels Project
      • Gatekeeper (voice)
      • 2025
    • Steve Martin, Meryl Streep, Martin Short, Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Levy, Molly Shannon, Selena Gomez, and Kumail Nanjiani in Only Murders in the Building (2021)
      Only Murders in the Building
      8.1
      TV Series
      • Mel Brooks
      • 2023
    • Mel Brooks, Ike Barinholtz, Pamela Adlon, Wanda Sykes, Nick Kroll, Nick Robinson, Dove Cameron, Tim Baltz, and Ronny Chieng in History of the World: Part II (2023)
      History of the World: Part II
      5.6
      TV Series
      • Narrator
      • 2023
    • Little Demon (2022)
      Little Demon
      7.0
      TV Series
      • Millipede (voice)
      • 2022
    • Samuel L. Jackson, Michelle Yeoh, Djimon Hounsou, Michael Cera, Ricky Gervais, and Kylie Kuioka in Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022)
      Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
      5.8
      • The Shogun (voice)
      • 2022
    • Grandma for President (2020)
      Grandma for President
      Podcast Series
      • Ernie Blanders (voice)
      • 2020
    • Olympians (2020)
      Olympians
      Short
      • Zeus
      • 2020
    • Tony Hale in Forky Asks a Question (2019)
      Forky Asks a Question
      6.6
      TV Series
      • Melephant Brooks (voice)
      • 2019
    • Tom Hanks, Keanu Reeves, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Christina Hendricks, Keegan-Michael Key, Ally Maki, and Jordan Peele in Toy Story 4 (2019)
      Toy Story 4
      7.6
      • Melephant Brooks (voice)
      • 2019
    • Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018)
      Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
      6.3
      • Vlad (voice)
      • 2018
    • Elle Fanning in Leap! (2016)
      Leap!
      6.8
      • Luteau (US version, voice)
      • 2016
    • The Guardian Brothers (2015)
      The Guardian Brothers
      5.5
      • Rogman (English version, voice)
      • 2015
    • Steve Buscemi, Adam Sandler, David Spade, Kevin James, Jonny Solomon, Keegan-Michael Key, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, Sadie Sandler, and Asher Blinkoff in Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)
      Hotel Transylvania 2
      6.6
      • Vlad (voice)
      • 2015
    • The Comedians (2015)
      The Comedians
      6.8
      TV Series
      • Mel Brooks
      • 2015
    • Kathleen Herles, Harrison Chad, Caitlin Sanchez, and Fatima Ptacek in Dora the Explorer (2000)
      Dora the Explorer
      4.4
      TV Series
      • Mad Hatter (voice)
      • 2014

    Writer



    • Young Frankenstein Live!
      • book by
      • In Production
      • TV Special



    • Mel Brooks, Ike Barinholtz, Pamela Adlon, Wanda Sykes, Nick Kroll, Nick Robinson, Dove Cameron, Tim Baltz, and Ronny Chieng in History of the World: Part II (2023)
      History of the World: Part II
      5.6
      TV Series
      • based upon the film "History of the World, Part I"
      • writer
      • 2023
    • Samuel L. Jackson, Michelle Yeoh, Djimon Hounsou, Michael Cera, Ricky Gervais, and Kylie Kuioka in Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022)
      Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
      5.8
      • screenplay by
      • 2022
    • Mel Brooks Live at the Geffen (2015)
      Mel Brooks Live at the Geffen
      7.2
      TV Special
      • written by
      • 2015
    • Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers, Daphne Zuniga, Dee Bradley Baker, Julianne Grossman, Tino Insana, and Rino Romano in Spaceballs: The Animated Series (2008)
      Spaceballs: The Animated Series
      4.2
      TV Series
      • creator
      • source
      • writer
      • 2008–2009
    • Masi Oka and Nate Torrence in Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control (2008)
      Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control
      4.9
      Video
      • characters (uncredited)
      • 2008
    • Anne Hathaway, Steve Carell, and Dwayne Johnson in Get Smart (2008)
      Get Smart
      6.5
      • characters
      • 2008
    • Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman, and Nathan Lane in The Producers (2005)
      The Producers
      6.4
      • screenplay (1968 screenplay, 2001 stage play book, 2001 stage play lyrics)
      • 2005
    • Great Performances (1971)
      Great Performances
      7.9
      TV Series
      • book for the musical play 'The Producers'
      • 2001
    • Mel Brooks, Leslie Nielsen, Lysette Anthony, Peter MacNicol, Steven Weber, and Amy Yasbeck in Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)
      Dracula: Dead and Loving It
      5.8
      • screenplay
      • 1995
    • Cary Elwes in Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
      Robin Hood: Men in Tights
      6.7
      • screenplay
      • 1993
    • Life Stinks (1991)
      Life Stinks
      5.9
      • screenplay
      • story
      • 1991
    • The Nutt House (1989)
      The Nutt House
      7.3
      TV Series
      • creator
      • written by
      • 1989
    • Mel Brooks, Bill Pullman, John Candy, Rick Moranis, and Daphne Zuniga in Spaceballs (1987)
      Spaceballs
      7.1
      • written by
      • 1987
    • An Audience with Mel Brooks (1983)
      An Audience with Mel Brooks
      7.6
      TV Special
      • writer (uncredited)
      • 1983
    • History of the World: Part I (1981)
      History of the World: Part I
      6.8
      • written by
      • 1981

    Producer



    • Young Frankenstein Live!
      • producer
      • In Production
      • TV Special



    • Mel Brooks, Ike Barinholtz, Pamela Adlon, Wanda Sykes, Nick Kroll, Nick Robinson, Dove Cameron, Tim Baltz, and Ronny Chieng in History of the World: Part II (2023)
      History of the World: Part II
      5.6
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2023
    • Samuel L. Jackson, Michelle Yeoh, Djimon Hounsou, Michael Cera, Ricky Gervais, and Kylie Kuioka in Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022)
      Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
      5.8
      • executive producer
      • 2022
    • Natalie Knepp in Sam (2017)
      Sam
      5.2
      • executive producer
      • 2017
    • Mel Brooks Live at the Geffen (2015)
      Mel Brooks Live at the Geffen
      7.2
      TV Special
      • executive producer
      • 2015
    • Mel Brooks and Alan Yentob in Mel Brooks Strikes Back! (2012)
      Mel Brooks Strikes Back!
      7.0
      TV Special
      • executive producer
      • 2012
    • Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers, Daphne Zuniga, Dee Bradley Baker, Julianne Grossman, Tino Insana, and Rino Romano in Spaceballs: The Animated Series (2008)
      Spaceballs: The Animated Series
      4.2
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2008–2009
    • Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman, and Nathan Lane in The Producers (2005)
      The Producers
      6.4
      • producer (produced by)
      • 2005
    • Mel Brooks, Leslie Nielsen, Lysette Anthony, Peter MacNicol, Steven Weber, and Amy Yasbeck in Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)
      Dracula: Dead and Loving It
      5.8
      • producer
      • 1995
    • Cary Elwes in Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
      Robin Hood: Men in Tights
      6.7
      • producer
      • 1993
    • The Vagrant (1992)
      The Vagrant
      5.8
      • executive producer
      • 1992
    • Life Stinks (1991)
      Life Stinks
      5.9
      • producer
      • 1991
    • The Nutt House (1989)
      The Nutt House
      7.3
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 1989
    • Mel Brooks, Bill Pullman, John Candy, Rick Moranis, and Daphne Zuniga in Spaceballs (1987)
      Spaceballs
      7.1
      • producer (produced by)
      • 1987
    • Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft in 84 Charing Cross Road (1987)
      84 Charing Cross Road
      7.4
      • executive producer
      • 1987
    • Solarbabies (1986)
      Solarbabies
      4.8
      • executive producer
      • 1986

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Every EGOT Winner So Far

    Every EGOT Winner So Far

    Only a handful of artists have reached EGOT status, that rare achievement of winning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award. Here is the full list of these legends of entertainment.
    See the list
    Production art
    List

    Videos39

    Mel Brooks Career Retrospective
    Clip 1:57
    Mel Brooks Career Retrospective
    Mel Brooks Strikes Back!
    Clip 0:31
    Mel Brooks Strikes Back!
    Mel Brooks Strikes Back!
    Clip 0:31
    Mel Brooks Strikes Back!
    Mel Brooks Strikes Back!
    Clip 0:39
    Mel Brooks Strikes Back!
    The Muppet Movie: The Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:05
    The Muppet Movie: The Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition
    The Muppet Movie: The Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:14
    The Muppet Movie: The Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition
    The Muppet Movie: The Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:21
    The Muppet Movie: The Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
    • Height
      • 5′ 5″ (1.65 m)
    • Born
      • June 28, 1926
      • Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
    • Spouses
        Anne BancroftAugust 5, 1964 - June 6, 2005 (her death, 1 child)
    • Children
        Eddie Brooks
    • Parents
        Kate Kaminsky (Brookman)
    • Relatives
      • Henry Michael Brooks(Grandchild)
    • Other works
      Album (w/Mel Brooks): "2000 and ONE Years with Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks" (Capitol Records).
    • Publicity listings
      • 4 Print Biographies
      • 21 Interviews
      • 11 Articles
      • 5 Pictorials
      • 6 Magazine Cover Photos

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Called his late wife, Anne Bancroft, his Obi-Wan Kenobi as she had encouraged him to turn his movie The Producers (1967) into a Broadway musical.
    • Quotes
      Why should I indulge myself and do a David Lean-ish kind of film? I could do my little Jewish Brief Encounter (1945) and disguise it - shorten the noses. But it wouldn't be as much fun as delivering my dish of insanity.
    • Trademarks
        Has frequently cast himself, Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman, Rudy De Luca, Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, Dom DeLuise, Ron Carey, Marty Feldman and Kenneth Mars.

    FAQ

    Powered by Alexa
    • How old is Mel Brooks?
      98 years old
    • When was Mel Brooks born?
      June 28, 1926
    • Where was Mel Brooks born?
      Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
    • What is Mel Brooks's birth name?
      Melvin James Kaminsky
    • How tall is Mel Brooks?
      5 feet 5 inches, or 1.65 meters

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