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Mel Brooks

Also Credited As: Melvin Brooks

Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY, USA

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BIO

With a career spanning over seven decades, he is known as a writer and director of a variety of successful broad farces and parodies. A recipient of numerous accolades, he is one of 21 entertainers to win the EGOT, which includes an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award. 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, a BAFTA Fellowship in 2017, and the Honorary Academy Award in 2024.



Brooks began his career as a comic and a writer for Sid Caesar's variety show Your Show of Shows from 1950 to 1954. With Carl Reiner, he created the comedy sketch The 2000 Year Old Man, and together, they released several comedy albums, starting with 2000 Year Old Man in 1960. With Buck Henry, he created the hit television comedy series Get Smart, which starred Don Adams and ran from 1965 to 1970.

Brooks won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Producers (1967). He then rose to prominence becoming one of the most successful film directors of the 1970s with The Twelve Chairs (1970), Blazing Saddles (1974), Young Frankenstein (1974), Silent Movie (1976), and High Anxiety (1977). Later Brooks made History of the World, Part I (1981), Spaceballs (1987), Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), and Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995). A musical adaptation of his first film, The Producers, ran on Broadway from 2001 to 2007 and earned Brooks three Tony Awards. The project was remade into a musical film in 2005. He wrote and produced the Hulu series History of the World, Part II (2023).

Brooks was married to actress Anne Bancroft from 1964 until her death in 2005. Their son Max Brooks is an actor and author, known for his novel World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War (2006). In 2021, Mel Brooks published his memoir titled All About Me!. Three of his films are included on the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 comedy films of the past 100 years (1900–2000), all of which were ranked in the top 15: Blazing Saddles at number 6, The Producers at number 11, and Young Frankenstein at number 13.

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STAGE CREDITS

In Residence In Residence
[Broadway]
Broadway Residency Program, 2019
Performer
The Producers The Producers
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2001
Judge [Replacement]

Productions

Young FrankensteinYoung Frankenstein
 
[West End, 2017] [Replacement]
Book[Replacement]
Music and lyrics[Replacement]
Producer[Replacement]
Young FrankensteinYoung Frankenstein
 
[US Tour, 2009]
Producer
Young FrankensteinYoung Frankenstein
 
[Broadway, 2007]
Producer
The Producers
 
[West End, 2004]
Producer
The Producers
 
[Canada, 2003]
Producer
The Producers
 
[US Tour, 2003]
Producer
The Producers
 
[US Tour, 2002]
Producer
The ProducersThe Producers
 
[Broadway, 2001]
Producer
Producer

Writing

All American
Bookwriter
Bookwriter
The Producers
Source Material
Bookwriter
Composer
Lyricist
Shinbone Alley
Bookwriter
Bookwriter
Young Frankenstein
Bookwriter
Composer
Lyricist

Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 2007 - Outstanding Lyrics

Mel Brooks, Young Frankenstein


winner
Olivier Awards - 2005 - Best New Musical

Mel Brooks, The Producers


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2001 - Outstanding Book of a Musical

Mel Brooks, The Producers


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2001 - Outstanding Lyrics

Mel Brooks , The Producers


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 2001 - Best Musical

Mel Brooks, The Producers


winner
Tony Awards - 2001 - Best Book of a Musical

Mel Brooks, The Producers


winner
Tony Awards - 2001 - Best Musical

Mel Brooks, The Producers


winner
Tony Awards - 2001 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Mel Brooks, The Producers

Videos

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News


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Avon Players Will Perform LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR
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by Alan Portner - Feb 23, 2025

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by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 14, 2025

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Cast and Creatives Set For THE PRODUCERS at the Hayes Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Feb 13, 2025

The cast and creative team has been announced for The Producers at the Hayes Theatre. BThe Producers won a record 12 Tony Awards. Now the show comes to Hayes Theatre Co in an all-new production, with performances commencing 29 March.
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by Stephi Wild - Feb 12, 2025

Good Theater has announced its 2025-26 season, marking its return to live performances at the newly renovated Stevens Square Theater on the former McAuley High School campus. Learn more about the lineup here!
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Mel Brooks’ YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN THE MUSICAL Will Have Regional Premiere at Hope Mill Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Feb 12, 2025

Hope Mill Theatre has announced that Mel Brooks’ YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN THE MUSICAL will have its regional premiere in October. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN will be directed and choreographed by Nick Winston.
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Church Basement Ladies Return to Way Off Broadway for A SECOND HELPING
by Stephi Wild - Feb 12, 2025

During the 2023 Season, the hilarious musical comedy Church Basement Ladies broke box office records at Way Off Broadway. This spring, the Lutheran ladies return to the WOB stage in A Second Helping – The Church Basement Ladies Sequel.     
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MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, OKLAHOMA! And More Announced At The Firehouse Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 7, 2025

The Firehouse Theatre has unveiled its 2025 season, “From the Golden Age to the Rock 'n' Roll Stage!” Audiences will journey through time with a spectacular lineup of musicals that celebrate Broadway classics and rock ‘n’ roll legends alike. 
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by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 4, 2025

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by Stephi Wild - Feb 4, 2025

As rehearsals begin, the Menier Chocolate Factory has announced the full cast for for the UK premiere of Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen.
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by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 31, 2025

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by Bruce Apar - Jan 23, 2025

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DRACULA, A COMEDY OF TERRORS Makes UK Premiere at the Menier Chocolate Factory
by Stephi Wild - Jan 7, 2025

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Mel Brooks been in?

Mel Brooks has appeared on Broadway in 2 shows.

How many West End shows has Mel Brooks been in?

Mel Brooks has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Mel Brooks been nominated for?

Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Young Frankenstein, Best New Musical (Olivier Awards) for The Producers, Outstanding Book of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Producers, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for The Producers, Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for The Producers, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Producers, Best Musical (Tony Awards) for The Producers and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for The Producers.

What awards has Mel Brooks won?

Mel Brooks has received several prestigious awards, including: - Best New Musical (Olivier Awards) for The Producers - Outstanding Book of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Producers - Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for The Producers - Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for The Producers - Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Producers - Best Musical (Tony Awards) for The Producers - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for The Producers.

How many shows has Mel Brooks written?

Mel Brooks has written 4 shows including Shinbone Alley (Bookwriter), All American (Bookwriter), The Producers (Source Material), Young Frankenstein (Bookwriter).

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