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Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks, c. February 1984
Born Melvin Kaminsky
June 28, 1926 (1926-06-28) (age 81)
Brooklyn, New York
Spouse(s) Florence Baum (1951-1961)
Anne Bancroft (1964-2005)

Mel Brooks (born Melvin Kaminsky; June 28, 1926)[1] is an American director, writer, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer best known as a creator of broad film farces and comedy parodies. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Anne Bancroft ( September 17 1931 – June 6 2005) was an American method Actress. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A film director, or filmmaker, is a person who directs the making of a Film. A writer is anyone who creates a written work although the word usually designates those who write creatively or professionally as well as those who have written in many different forms A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance A lyricist is a Writer who specializes in Song Lyrics, usually paid for by a band to write a custom song(s A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience primarily by making them laugh An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works A film producer is a person who creates the conditions for making movies. A farce is a Comedy written for the stage or film which aims to Entertain the audience by means of unlikely extravagant and improbable situations disguise and mistaken A parody (ˈpɛɹədiː US, [ˈpaɹədiː] UK) in contemporary usage is a work created to mock comment on or poke fun at an original work its subject Brooks is a member of the short list of entertainers with the distinction of having won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony award. This is a list of persons who have won Grammy, Academy, Tony, and Emmy Awards, "GATE", the four major entertainment awards The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented

Contents

Biography

Early life

Brooks was born Melvin Kaminsky in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Kate (née Brookman), a garment worker, and Max Kaminsky, a process server. Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Clothing (also called clothes, accoutrements, accouterments, or habiliments) protects the Human body from extreme Weather [2] Brooks's family was Jewish; his mother's parents immigrated from outside Kiev and his paternal family from Austria. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Kiev, also known as Kyiv ( Ukrainian:, Kyiv, ˈkɪjiw Russian:, Kiyev; see also Cities' alternative names) is the Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich [3] His father died of kidney disease at age 34.

As a child, Brooks was a small and sickly boy. He was bullied and picked on by his peers. By taking on the comically aggressive job of Tummler in various Catskills resorts, he overcame his childhood of bullying and name calling. This is a list of English language words of Yiddish language origin many of which have entered the language by way of American English or Cockney. [4]

He went to school in New York. For elementary, he went to Public School 19 (Williamsburg). For middle school, he went to Francis Scott Key, Jr. High (Williamsburg). Brooks went to Eastern District High School in Brooklyn. In June 1944, Brooks enlisted in the Army. [5] He had basic training at Virginia Military Institute and finished up at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. The Virginia Military Institute ( VMI) located in Lexington Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City. Oklahoma ( is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. He was shipped off to war in February of 1945 where he initially served as forward observer for the artillery. Shortly thereafter, Brooks was reassigned to the 1104th Combat Engineers Group. Several months later, Germany had surrendered and Brooks was promoted to corporal. He continued to serve in Germany for another four months in charge of Special Services (entertainment). Brooks completed his service at Fort Dix in New Jersey. Fort Dix is a United States Army installation located in parts of New Hanover Township, Pemberton New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States.

Early career

Brooks started out in show business as a stand-up comic, telling jokes and doing movie-star impressions. He found more rewarding work behind the scenes, becoming a comedy writer for television. He joined the hit comedy series Your Show of Shows with Sid Caesar and Carl Reiner. Isaac Sidney "Sid" Caesar (born September 8, 1922) is an Emmy Award -winning American comic actor and writer known as the leading man Carl Reiner (born March 20, 1922) is an American Actor, Film director, producer, Writer and Comedian In 1960, an attack of gout (and the aftermath of the surgery done to relieve it) left him allegedly feeling like a 2000-year-old man. Gout (also called metabolic arthritis) is a disease created by a buildup of Uric acid. This became the persona of The 2000 Year Old Man, the focus of ad-libbed comedy routines and comedy records, with Carl Reiner as his straight man. The 2000 Year Old Man was a persona created by Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner starting around 1961 Carl Reiner (born March 20, 1922) is an American Actor, Film director, producer, Writer and Comedian

Brooks later moved into film, working as an actor, director, writer, and producer. Brooks' first film was The Critic (1963), an animated satire of arty, esoteric cinema, conceived by Brooks and directed by Ernest Pintoff. The Critic is a 1963 short animation by director/producer Ernest Pintoff and creator/narrator Mel Brooks, that won an Academy Award Ernest Pintoff ( December 15, 1931, Watertown Connecticut – January 12, 2002, Woodland Hills Los Angeles) was an Brooks supplied running commentary as the baffled moviegoer trying to make sense of the obscure visuals. The short film won an Academy Award. With Buck Henry, Brooks created the successful TV series Get Smart, starring Don Adams as a bumbling secret agent. Henry Zuckerman better known as Buck Henry (born December 9 1930 is an Academy Award -nominated American Actor, Writer, Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirized the secret agent genre Don Adams (born Donald James Yarmy; April 13 1923 &ndash September 25 2005 was an American Actor, Comedian, Game show This series added to Brooks' reputation as a clever satirist.

Brooks' first feature film, The Producers, was a black comedy about two theatrical partners who deliberately contrive the worst possible Broadway show. The Producers is a 1968 feature-length Comedy film written and directed by Mel Brooks. The film was so brazen in its satire (its big production number was "Springtime for Hitler") that the major studios wouldn't touch it, nor would many exhibitors. Springtime for Hitler A Gay Romp With Eva and Adolf at Berchtesgaden is a fictional play in Mel Brooks ' 1968 film The Producers (that Brooks finally found an independent distributor, which released it like an art film, as a specialized attraction. The film received an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best script not based upon previously published material The film became a smash underground hit, first on the nationwide college circuit, then in revivals and on home video. Brooks later turned it into a musical, which became one of the most popular Broadway shows.

His two most financially successful films were released in 1974: Blazing Saddles (co-written with Richard Pryor, Andrew Bergman, Norman Steinberg and Alan Uger), and Young Frankenstein (co-written with Gene Wilder). Blazing Saddles ( 1974) is a satiric Western Comedy film directed by Mel Brooks. Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III ( December 1, 1940 &ndash December 10, 2005) was an American Comedian, Actor Andrew Bergman is an American Screenwriter, Film director, and Novelist. Young Frankenstein is a 1974 Comedy film directed by Mel Brooks, starring Gene Wilder as the title character Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman; June 11 1933 He followed these up with an audacious idea: the first feature-length silent comedy in four decades. Silent Movie (1976) featured Brooks in his first leading role, with Dom DeLuise and Marty Feldman as his sidekicks. Silent Movie is a 1976 Comedy film directed by and starring Mel Brooks. Martin Alan "Marty" Feldman ( 8 July 1934 &ndash 2 December 1982) was an English writer comedian and Actor, The following year he released his Hitchcock parody High Anxiety, which was the first movie produced by Brooks himself. Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE (13 High Anxiety is a 1977 Comedy film produced by directed by and starring Mel Brooks.

Brooks developed a repertory company of sorts for his film work: performers with three or more Brooks films to their credit include Gene Wilder, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Ron Carey and Andréas Voutsinas. Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman; June 11 1933 Madeline Kahn ( September 29, 1942 – December 3, 1999) was an American actress, known primarily for her comedic roles Harvey Herschel Korman ( February 15, 1927 &ndash May 29, 2008) was an American comedic Actor who performed Cloris Leachman (born April 30, 1926) is an Academy Award -winning American Actress of stage, Film and Ron Carey ( December 11 1935 &ndash January 16 2007) was an American film and television Actor Andréas Voutsinas is a Greek actor In the English speaking world he is best known for his roles in three Mel Brooks films- 1968's The Producers, 1970's Dom DeLuise has appeared in six of Brooks' 12 films, the only person with more appearances being Brooks himself. In 1975, at the height of his movie career, Brooks tried TV again with When Things Were Rotten, a Robin Hood parody that lasted only 13 episodes. When Things Were Rotten was an American Situation comedy television series created in 1975 by Mel Brooks and aired for half a season by Robin Hood is an archetypal figure in English folklore, whose story originates from medieval times but who remains significant in popular culture where Nearly 20 years later, Brooks mounted another Robin Hood parody with Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Robin Hood Men in Tights is a 1993 Comedy of the story of Robin Hood (primarily parodying Robin Hood Prince of Thieves

Later career

In 1980, Brooks became interested in producing the dramatic film The Elephant Man (directed by David Lynch). The Elephant Man is a 1980 Biopic loosely based on the story of the 19th century British deformed celebrity Joseph Merrick (called John David Keith Lynch (born January 20 1946 is an American director, Screenwriter, producer, painter, Cartoonist, Composer Knowing that anyone seeing a poster reading "Mel Brooks presents The Elephant Man' would expect a comedy, he set up the company Brooksfilms. Brooksfilms has since produced a number of non-comedy films, including David Cronenberg's The Fly, Frances, and 84 Charing Cross Road, starring Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft, as well as comedies, including Richard Benjamin's My Favorite Year. David Paul Cronenberg OC, FRSC (born March 15, 1943) is a Canadian Film director and occasional Actor. The Fly is a 1986 Science fiction / Horror film produced by Brooksfilms and 20th Century Fox, directed by David Cronenberg Frances is a 1982 Universal Drama film starring Jessica Lange, Kim Stanley, Sam Shepard. 84 Charing Cross Road is a 1987 British / American Drama film directed by David Hugh Jones. Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, CBE (born 31 December 1937 is a Welsh Film, stage and Television Actor. Anne Bancroft ( September 17 1931 – June 6 2005) was an American method Actress. Richard Benjamin (born May 22, 1938) is an American Actor and Film director. My Favorite Year is a 1982 Comedy film which tells the story of a young comedy writer

The 1980s saw Brooks produce and direct only two films, the first being History of the World Part I in 1981, a tongue-in-cheek look at human culture from the Dawn of Man to the French Revolution. History of the World Part I is a 1981 Film written produced and directed by Mel Brooks. The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an As part of the film's soundtrack, Brooks, then aged 55, recorded a rap entitled "It's Good to Be the King", sending up Louis XVI and the French Revolution; it was released as a single, and became an unlikely US disco hit. Louis XVI ( 23 August 1754 – 21 January 1793) Louis-Auguste de France, ruled as King of France and Navarre The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an His second movie release of the decade came in 1987 in the form of Spaceballs, a parody of Star Wars. Spaceballs is a 1987 Science fiction Parody film of Star Wars co-written directed by and starring Mel Brooks. Star Wars is an epic Space opera franchise initially conceived by George Lucas during the 1970s and significantly expanded Both films featured him in multiple roles. He also starred in the 1983 remake To Be or Not to Be. To Be or Not to Be is a 1983 20th Century Fox Comedy film directed by Alan Johnson, produced by Mel Brooks with Howard Jeffrey as

Brooks' most recent success has been a transfer of his film The Producers to the Broadway stage. The Producers is a 1968 feature-length Comedy film written and directed by Mel Brooks. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Brooks also had a vocal role in the 2005 animated film Robots. Robots is a 2005 American computer-animated Comedy film produced by Blue Sky Studios for 20th Century Fox (the He is currently working on an animated series sequel to Spaceballs. An animated cartoon is a short hand-drawn (or made with computers to look similar to something hand-drawn Film for the cinema, Television or computer A sequel is a work in Literature, Film, or other media that portrays events following those of a previous work Spaceballs: The TV Series is expected to premiere June 1st, 2008 on G4 TV. Spaceballs The Animated Series, also known as Spaceballs The Series, is an Animated Television series based on the Parody

Brooks is one of the few artists who have received an Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Grammy. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences He was awarded his first Grammy award for Best Spoken Comedy Album in 1999 for his recording of The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000 with Carl Reiner. His two other Grammys came in 2002 for Best Musical Show Album, for the soundtrack to The Producers, and for Best Long Form Music Video for the DVD "Recording the Producers - A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks". He won his first of four Emmy awards in 1967 for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety for a Sid Caesar special. Isaac Sidney "Sid" Caesar (born September 8, 1922) is an Emmy Award -winning American comic actor and writer known as the leading man He went on to win three consecutive Emmys in 1997, 1998, and 1999 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role of Uncle Phil on Mad About You. Mad About You is an American Sitcom that aired on NBC from September 23, 1992, to May 24, 1999 He won his three Tony awards in 2001 for his work on the musical, The Producers. He won Tonys for Best Musical, Best Original Musical Score, and Best Book of a Musical. Additionally, he won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award for Young Frankenstein. The Hugo Awards are given every year for the best Science fiction or Fantasy works and achievements of the previous year The Nebula Award is an award given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA for the best Science fiction / Fantasy fiction In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was voted #50 of the top 50 comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. Three of Brooks' films are on the American Film Institute's list of funniest American films: Blazing Saddles (#6), The Producers (#11), and Young Frankenstein (#13). The American Film Institute ( AFI) is an independent Non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 Part of the AFI 100 Years series, AFI's 100 Years 100 Laughs is a list of the top 100 comedy movies in American cinema

Brooks and his wife Anne Bancroft acted together in Silent Movie and To Be or Not to Be, and Bancroft also had a bit part in the 1995 film Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Anne Bancroft ( September 17 1931 – June 6 2005) was an American method Actress. Dracula Dead And Loving It ( 1995) directed by Mel Brooks. It is a parody of the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, and of some Years later, the Brooks' appeared as themselves in the fourth season finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm, spoofing the finale of The Producers. Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American Sitcom starring Seinfeld writer co-creator and executive producer Larry David as himself and It is reported that Bancroft encouraged Brooks (after an idea suggested by David Geffen) to take The Producers to Broadway where it became an enormous success, as the show broke the Tony record with 12 wins, a record that had previously been held for 37 years by Hello, Dolly! at 10 wins. Hello Dolly! is a musical with lyrics and music by Jerry Herman and a book by Michael Stewart, based on Thornton Wilder 's 1938 Such success has translated to a big-screen version of the Broadway adaptation/remake with actors Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane reprising their stage roles, in addition to new cast members Uma Thurman and Will Ferrell. Matthew Broderick (born March 21, 1962) is an American award-winning film and stage Actor who is best known for his roles as the title character Joseph “Nathan” Lane (born February 3, 1956) is a two-time Tony and Emmy Award-winning American actor of the stage and screen Uma Karuna Thurman ( IPA: /ˈumə ˈθɝmən/ born April 29 1970 is an Academy Award -nominated American actress. John William "Will" Ferrell (ˈfærəl born July 16, 1967) is an American Comedian, Actor, Voice actor, As of early April 2006, Brooks had begun composing the score to a Broadway musical adaptation of Young Frankenstein, which he says is "perhaps the best movie [he] ever made. Musical composition is an original piece of Music the structure of a musical piece the process of creating a new Young Frankenstein, officially known as The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, is a musical with a book by Mel Brooks and " The world premiere was performed at Seattle's most historic theatre (originally built as a movie palace), The Paramount Theatre, between August 7, 2007, and September 1, 2007 after which it opened on Broadway at the Hilton Theatre, New York, on October 11, 2007. Events 322 BC - Battle of Crannon between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Hilton Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 213 West 42nd Street in Manhattan. Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

In interviews broadcast on WABC radio, Brooks has discussed with NYC radio personality Mark Simone the possibilities of turning other works from his creative oeuvre (such as the movie Blazing Saddles) into future musical productions. Mark Simone is an American Radio personality. He can be heard on WABC-AM in New York. Specifically, in a conversation airing March 1, 2008, he and Simone speculated on what show tunes might be incorporated into a theatrical adaptation of the Get Smart property. Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirized the secret agent genre

Personal life

Brooks was married to Florence Baum from 1951 to 1961. Their marriage ended in divorce. Mel and Florence had three children, Stephanie, Nicky, and Eddie. More famously, he was married to the actress Anne Bancroft from 1964 until her death from uterine cancer on June 6, 2005. Anne Bancroft ( September 17 1931 – June 6 2005) was an American method Actress. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. They met on rehearsal for the Perry Como Variety Show in 1961 and married three years later, August 5th. Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como ( May 18 1912 &ndash May 12 2001) was an Italian-American singer and television personality A variety show or variety entertainment is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts especially Musical performances and Comedy Skits and Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. They had one son, Maximillian, in 1972. Max Brooks (born Maximillian Michael Brooks on May 22, 1972 in New York City) is an author and screenwriter Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Work

Writer/director

Theater

Other works

See also

Further reading

Notes

  1. ^ Parish, pp. 16–17
  2. ^ "Mel Brooks Biography (1926-)" at Filmreference.com
  3. ^ "It's good to be Mel Brooks", Jstandard.com
  4. ^ Lightfoot, David (March 6, 2002). Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Ages with the Parody Master - The Life and Films of Mel Brooks. Geocities.com. Yahoo! GeoCities is a Webhosting service founded by David Bohnett and John Rezner in late 1994 as Beverly Hills Internet (BHI Retrieved on 2007-05-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople
  5. ^ "Office of History" (US Ace)

References

External links

Persondata
NAME Brooks, Mel
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kaminsky, Melvin
SHORT DESCRIPTION American director, writer, actor, and producer
DATE OF BIRTH June 28, 1926
PLACE OF BIRTH Brooklyn, New York, United States
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
The Internet Broadway Database ( IBDB) is an online Database of Broadway theatre productions and their personnel Fresh Air is a Radio talk show hosted by Terry Gross, broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
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