at the Tonys (2001)

Born Melvin Kaminsky in Brooklyn, NY. Former stand-up comic who, together with Woody Allen and Bill Cosby, set the stage in the 1960s for the entire post-vaudeville, TV generation of comedians. While Allen was personal and self-deprecating and Cosby eschewed shtick in favor of witty commentary, Brooks -- often working with Carl Reiner -- embraced the craziness at the root of all ethnic vaudeville and reshaped it for decades to come. He was a saner Lenny Bruce, bringing high anxiety down to earth, where we could deal with it. Brooks graduated from TV writer ("Your Show of Shows") to successful series creator ("Get Smart") before breaking into features with THE PRODUCERS (1968), which set the zany, comedic tone of all his subsequent films. His two greatest successes, BLAZING SADDLES (1973) and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974), were broad send-ups of the western and horror genres, respectively. As with all great comic filmmakers -- Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd, Tati, Allen -- the persona surpasses the mise-en-scène, no matter how inventive it is. Other notable (non-nominated) directing/writing credits, either alone or in collaboration, include THE CRITIC (1963), THE TWELVE CHAIRS (1970), SHINBONE ALLEY (1971, screenplay only), SILENT MOVIE (1976), HIGH ANXIETY (1977), 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). His production company, BrooksFilms, Ltd. formed in 1979, has been responsible for such diverse works as David Lynch's THE ELEPHANT MAN (1980), Graeme Clifford's FRANCES (1982) and David Cronenberg's THE FLY (1986). His smash Broadway musical version of THE PRODUCERS, starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, set a new record for Tony® Awards (12) in 2001. And the musical version of YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is set to to open on Broadway in 2007. Married to Florence Baum from 1951 to 1961. In 1964, Brooks married actress Anne Bancroft, opposite whom he starred in his 1983 remake of TO BE OR NOT TO BE. They remained married until her death in 2005.

Writing (Best Story and Screenplay written directly for the screen) 1968: THE PRODUCERS  Nominated for Writing (Best Screenplay adapted from other material) 1974: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (w. Gene Wilder)  Nominated for Music Best Song 1974: BLAZING SADDLES - Lyric "Blazing Saddles" 3 nominations, 1 Award