Mel Brooks is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker, songwriter, and playwright, known for his farces and parodies.
Born on a tenement kitchen table in Brooklyn, Brooks faced early adversity, including the loss of his father at a young age.
Brooks began his career in the Borscht Belt clubs, where he honed his comedic skills as a drummer and performer.
Biography
Early Life
Melvin James Brooks, born on June 28, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York, grew up in a Jewish family with roots in Germany and Russia. His father, Max Kaminsky, passed away when Mel was just two years old, leaving a profound impact on his life and humor. As a small and sickly child, he often faced bullying, which led him to develop a sharp sense of humor as a defense mechanism. Inspired by a performance of Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" at the age of nine, Brooks declared his ambition to become a performer. He began his career in the Borscht Belt clubs, where he worked as a drummer and comedian, eventually transitioning to television writing in the late 1940s.
Career
Brooks's career took off in the 1950s when he became a writer for the influential variety show "Your Show of Shows," alongside notable figures like Carl Reiner and Neil Simon. His unique comedic style, characterized by farce and parody, led to a series of successful films, including "Blazing Saddles," "Young Frankenstein," and "The Producers." His work in musical theater also garnered acclaim, with productions like "The Producers" winning multiple Tony Awards. Over his seven-decade career, Brooks has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, several Emmy Awards, and Grammy Awards, making him one of the few individuals to achieve an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony).
Personal Life
Brooks was married to actress Florence Baum from 1953 until their divorce in 1962, with whom he had three children. He later married actress Anne Bancroft in 1964, and they remained together until her death in 2005. Brooks has often credited Bancroft as a significant influence in his life and career, particularly in his work on "The Producers" and "Young Frankenstein." Despite his success, he has remained grounded, often reflecting on the challenges he faced early in his career and the importance of humor in overcoming adversity. Today, Brooks continues to be celebrated for his contributions to comedy and film, leaving a lasting legacy in the entertainment industry.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein (Original London Cast Recording)2021
- 1."Overture" – Orchestra, Frederick and Medical Students1:46
- 2."The Brain" – Frederick and Medical Students4:37
- 3."Please Don't Touch Me" – Elizabeth and Passengers3:14
- 4."Together Again" – Frederick and Igor5:29
- 5."Roll in the Hay" – Inga, Frederick, and Igor3:52
- 6."He Vas My Boyfriend" – Frau Blucher4:59
- 7."It Could Work" – Frederick, Igor, Inga, and Frau Blucher4:54
- 8."Hang Him Til He's Dead" – Kemp and Villagers1:49
- 9."The Experiment' - Frederick, Igor, Inga2:07
- 10."He Vas My Boyfriend" (reprise) – Frau Blucher0:32
- 11."Welcome to Transylvania" – Kemp and Transylvania Quartet1:28
- 12."Transylvania Mania" – Igor, Frederick, Inga, and Villagers4:48
- 13."He's Loose" – Kemp and Villagers1:21
- 14."Listen to Your Heart" – Frederick and Inga4:19
- 15."Surprise" – Elizabeth, Igor, Frau Blucher, and Entourage3:20
- 16."Please Send Me Someone" – Hermit, the Monster3:00
- 17."Puttin' on the Ritz" (Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin) – Frederick, the Monster, Inga, Igor, and Chorus of Monsters7:35
- 18."Deep Love" – Elizabeth3:43
- 19."Hang the Doctor" - Frederick, Inga, Frau Blucher, Irog, Villagers3:17
- 20."Deep Love" (reprise) – the Monster and Villagers1:47
- 21."Finale - Together Again" – Company1:04
- 22."The Bows" - Company1:55
- 23."Exit Music" - Company1:45
The 2000 Year Old Man - The Complete History2009
- 1.2000 Years: 2000 Year Old Man12:36
- 2.2000 Years: Fabiola2:09
- 3.2000 Years: The Astronaut4:02
- 4.2000 Years: In a Coffee House11:09
- 5.2000 Years: The Peruvian2:42
- 6.2000 Years: The Psychiatrist4:00
- 7.2000 and One Years: 2000 and Six Month Old Man13:57
- 8.2000 and One Years: The Tax Expert2:58
- 9.2000 and One Years: Two Hour Old Baby6:40
- 10.2000 and One Years: The New Technique Psychiatric Society8:01
- 11.2000 and One Years: The Third Best Poet5:11
- 12.At the Cannes Film Festival: The Cannes Film Festival9:59
- 13.At the Cannes Film Festival: Dr. Felix Wheird5:26
- 14.At the Cannes Film Festival: 2000 and Two Year Old Man9:41
- 15.At the Cannes Film Festival: The L.M.N.O.P. Ad Agency6:13
- 16.2000 and Thirteen: Intro0:46
- 17.2000 and Thirteen: Will to Live0:26
- 18.2000 and Thirteen: Slow Growth1:34
- 19.2000 and Thirteen: Natural Foods2:42
- 20.2000 and Thirteen: Phil1:43
- 21.2000 and Thirteen: Asparagus0:49
- 22.2000 and Thirteen: Origin of Words1:15
- 23.2000 and Thirteen: Great Inventions2:25
- 24.2000 and Thirteen: Strawberries0:47
- 25.2000 and Thirteen: Miracle Fruits1:07
- 26.2000 and Thirteen: The Greatest Invention1:21
- 27.2000 and Thirteen: Ancient Poetry1:49
- 28.2000 and Thirteen: The Fig Leaf1:18
- 29.2000 and Thirteen: Paul Revere0:59
- 30.2000 and Thirteen: Ma and Pa1:24
- 31.2000 and Thirteen: Jesus and the Apostles1:57
- 32.2000 and Thirteen: Generals1:22
- 33.2000 and Thirteen: Winston Churchill0:51
- 34.2000 and Thirteen: War of the Roses1:27
- 35.2000 and Thirteen: Dolly Madison1:55
- 36.2000 and Thirteen: Lord Byron1:17
- 37.2000 and Thirteen: 21,000 Doctors2:14
- 38.2000 and Thirteen: Jolson1:32
- 39.2000 and Thirteen: America's Economic Plight0:56
- 40.2000 and Thirteen: Hope for Mankind0:42
- 41.A Re-Pleasure to See You2:50
- 42.See Moses Run3:05
- 43.Diseases and the Plagues4:14
- 44.Pain2:00
- 45.Wives and Famous Women4:26
- 46.Parents1:21
- 47.First Place You Ever Lived1:21
- 48.Yarmulkes Galore and the Inquisition4:40
- 49.Computer Sex and Self Help2:15
- 50.Exercise and Informercial1:55
- 51.Music1:47
- 52.Height and Plastic Surgery2:55
- 53.Seven Wonders of the World4:17
- 54.Famous People3:07
- 55.Pet Peeves and Words of Wisdom3:28
- 56.Ballantine Beer Radio Spots - Dick Cavett Intervews the 2500 Year Old Brewmaster18:19
- 57.The Ed Sullivan Show (February 12, 1961)7:22
- 58.The New Steve Allen Show (October 18, 1961)13:43
- 59.The 2000 Year Old Man (Animated TV Special - 1975)24:21
- 60.Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks Discuss the 2000 Year Old Man (August 5, 2009)26:53
The Producers2008
- 1.Ouverture0:55
- 2.Es ist soweit2:02
- 3.Der König vom Broadway6:36
- 4.Wir zusammen3:45
- 5.Ich wär so gern ein Producer6:25
- 6.Der Rechts Herum Hupfauf2:54
- 7.Mach es warm6:42
- 8.Wenn Du´s drauf hast, zeig es!3:45
- 9.Und dann kam Bialy & Finale8:20
- 10.Der Blick6:36
- 11.Haben Sie gehört die Deutsche Band1:39
- 12.Es bringt Pech2:01
- 13.Frühling für Hitler10:20
- 14.Verrat5:17
- 15.Ein Freund4:36
- 16.Liebe im Knast5:19
- 17.Goodbye!0:55
Young Frankenstein: Original Broadway Cast Recording2007
- 1.Overture4:09
- 2.The Happiest Town in Town2:54
- 3.The Brain5:00
- 4.Please Don’t Touch Me4:00
- 5.Together Again3:51
- 6.Roll in the Hay3:36
- 7.Join the Family Business4:19
- 8.He Vas My Boyfriend3:15
- 9.Life, Life3:20
- 10.Welcome to Transylvania1:13
- 11.Transylvania Mania4:34
- 12.He’s Loose1:58
- 13.Listen to Your Heart2:52
- 14.Surprise4:00
- 15.Please Send Me Someone2:53
- 16.Man About Town1:48
- 17.Puttin’ on the Ritz4:28
- 18.Deep Love3:15
- 19.Frederick’s Soliloquy0:48
- 20.Finale Ultimo2:55
- 21.Alone1:54
Young Frankenstein - The New Mel Brooks Musical2007
- 1.Overture4:08
- 2.The Happiest Town In Town2:54
- 3.The Brain4:58
- 4.Please Don’t Touch Me3:59
- 5.Together Again3:50
- 6.Roll In the Hay3:34
- 7.Join the Family Business4:17
- 8.He Vas My Boyfriend3:14
- 9.Life, Life3:18
- 10.Welcome to Transylvania1:12
- 11.Transylvania Mania4:32
- 12.He’s Loose1:57
- 13.Listen to Your Heart2:51
- 14.Surprise3:59
- 15.Please Send Me Someone2:51
- 16.Man About Town1:48
- 17.Puttin’ On the Ritz4:27
- 18.Deep Love3:13
- 19.Frederick’s Soliloquy0:47
- 20.Finale Ultimo2:52
- 21.Alone1:53
- 22.Transylvania Mania Blues3:20
The Producers: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack2005
- 1.Overture0:44
- 2.Opening Night1:46
- 3.We Can Do It3:58
- 4.I Wanna Be a Producer6:15
- 5.Der guten Tag Hop‐Clop1:58
- 6.Keep It Gay5:53
- 7.When You Got It, Flaunt It3:11
- 8.Along Came Bialy3:52
- 9.That Face4:17
- 10.Haben Sie gehört das deutsche Band?1:20
- 11.You Never Say Good Luck on Opening Night1:35
- 12.Springtime for Hitler, Part I3:41
- 13.Heil Myself0:53
- 14.Springtime for Hitler, Part II3:02
- 15.You’ll Find Your Happiness in Rio (full version)1:11
- 16.Betrayed4:27
- 17.Til Him3:10
- 18.Prisoners of Love (Broadway)2:17
- 19.Prisoners of Love (Leo and Max)1:28
- 20.There’s Nothing Like a Show on Broadway3:42
- 21.The Hop‐Clop Goes On3:35
- 22.Goodbye!0:37
- 23.The King of Broadway4:39
- 24.In Old Bavaria1:03
The Producers2001
- 1.Overture3:51
- 2.Opening Night1:44
- 3.The King of Broadway5:09
- 4.We Can Do It3:36
- 5.I Wanna Be a Producer6:47
- 6.In Old Bavaria0:57
- 7.Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop2:16
- 8.Keep It Gay5:12
- 9.When You Got It, Flaunt It3:33
- 10.Along Came Bialy6:58
- 11.That Face4:23
- 12.Haben Sie Gehört das Deutsche Band?1:17
- 13.Opening Night (reprise)0:37
- 14.You Never Say Good Luck on Opening Night1:36
- 15.Springtime for Hitler8:25
- 16.Where Did We Go Right?2:17
- 17.Betrayed4:54
- 18.'Til Him3:42
- 19.Prisoners of Love (Leo & Max)4:15
- 20.Goodbye!0:32
The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 20001997
- 1.A Re-Pleasure to See You2:50
- 2.See Moses Run3:05
- 3.Diseases and the Plagues4:14
- 4.Pain2:00
- 5.Wives and Famous Women4:26
- 6.Parents1:21
- 7.First Place You Ever Lived1:21
- 8.Yarmulkes Galore and the Inquisition4:40
- 9.Computer Sex and Self Help2:15
- 10.Excercise and Infomercial1:55
- 11.Music1:47
- 12.Height and Plastic Surgery2:55
- 13.Seven Wonders of the World4:18
- 14.Famous People3:07
- 15.Pet Peeves and Words of Wisdom3:28
To Be or Not to Be: Original Dialogue and Music from the Motion Picture1983
- 1.Overture: Sidewalks of Warsaw / Ladies / A Little Peace2:46
- 2.Sweet Georgia Brown & The Bronskis Backstage3:08
- 3.Sidewalks of Warsaw1:08
- 4.A Little Peace1:57
- 5.Anna Bronski's Dressing Room (The Rendezvous)2:45
- 6.Ladies3:25
- 7.Polish Flier's Chorus1:05
- 8.Anna Bronski Serenades Prof. Siletski / You and the Night and the Music / Sweetheart, Sweetheart, Sweetheart / Heart and Soul2:07
- 9.Bronski Meets Colonel Erhardt / Subterfuge / Bronski Soliloquy2:37
- 10.Curtain Call: Ladies / Sweet Georgia Brown3:37
- 11.To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap)6:07
Mel Brooks' History of the World Part I1981
- 1.History of the World Theme1:09
- 2.Moses1:03
- 3.The Roman Empire10:51
- 4.The Inquisition5:54
- 5.The French Revolution11:41
- 6.Coming Attractions: Hitler On Ice / A Viking Funeral / Jews In Space2:08
- 7.History of the World Medley2:21
2000 and Thirteen1973
- 1.Intro0:46
- 2.Will to Live0:26
- 3.Slow Growth1:34
- 4.Natural Foods2:41
- 5.Phil1:43
- 6.Asparagus0:49
- 7.Origin of Words1:15
- 8.Great Inventions2:25
- 9.Strawberries0:47
- 10.Miracle Fruits1:07
- 11.The Greatest Invention1:21
- 12.Ancient Poetry1:49
- 13.The Fig Leaf1:18
- 14.Paul Revere0:59
- 15.Ma and Pa1:24
- 16.Jesus and the Apostles1:57
- 17.Generals1:22
- 18.Winston Churchill0:51
- 19.War of the Roses1:27
- 20.Dolly Madison1:55
- 21.Lord Byron1:17
- 22.21,000 Doctors2:14
- 23.Jolson1:32
- 24.America's Economic Plight0:56
- 25.Hope for Mankind0:42
The Producers: The Original Soundtrack Recording1968
- 1.Titles2:12
- 2.The Plot1:49
- 3.Bialystock Seduces Bloom4:04
- 4.The World's Worst Play2:01
- 5.Franz Liebkind2:48
- 6.Little Old Ladyland1:18
- 7.Ulla - "That's a Toy?"1:48
- 8.The Producers1:28
- 9.The World's Worst Director2:44
- 10.Auditioning 100 Hitlers3:28
- 11.Love Power2:27
- 12.Opening Night: Lobby, Overture2:11
- 13.Springtime for Hitler3:25
- 14.Adolph and Eva (Medley)0:32
- 15.Bialystock and Bloom at Bar (A Toast to Failure)0:14
- 16.Background Music - Bar Scene2:07
- 17.Disaster0:52
- 18.Where Did I Go Right?2:41
- 19.Courtroom0:23
- 20.Prisoners of Love2:24
Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks at the Cannes Film Festival1962
Tracklist not collected yet.
2000 and One Years with Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks1961
Tracklist not collected yet.
2000 Years With…1960
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Producers (2007-03-30 Non-Equity Tour, Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara, CA, USA cast)
Tracklist not collected yet.
Young Frankenstein (2007-08-07 Seattle cast)
Tracklist not collected yet.
I Really Love You / It’s Good to Be the King2001
Tracklist not collected yet.
It’s Good to Be the King Rap1989
Tracklist not collected yet.
To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap), Parts 1 & 21983
Tracklist not collected yet.
It’s Good to Be the King Rap1982
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Incredible Mel Brooks2012
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Complete 2000 Year Old Man1994
Tracklist not collected yet.
2000 and Six Month Man
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Achievements
- Award
- Nebula Award for Best Script
- Award
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Music Film
- Award
- Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay
- Award
- Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay
- Award
- Saturn Award for Best Director
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album
- Award
- Grammy Hall of Fame
- Award
- Tony Award for Best Original Score
- Award
- Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album
- Award
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical
- Award
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics
- Award
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical
- Award
- Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement
- Award
- Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical
- Award
- Kennedy Center Honors
- Award
- AFI Life Achievement Award
- Award
- American Campaign Medal
- Award
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
- Award
- World War II Victory Medal
- Award
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
- Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Award
- Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation
- Award
- Academy Honorary Award
- Award
- Peabody Awards
Influenced by
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Melvin James Brooks is an American actor, comedian, film director, songwriter and playwright. With a career spanning seven decades, he is known for a variety of successful farces and parodies. A recipient of numerous accolades, he is one of the few people to win the EGOT. 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 and a BAFTA Fellowship in 2017.
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