Mel Brooks: podcast appearances and interviews

Melvin James Brooks, born June 28, 1926, is an American actor, comedian, film director, songwriter, and playwright. Over a career spanning seven decades, he is recognized for his work in a variety of successful farces and parodies. Brooks has received numerous accolades, including the distinguished honor of winning an EGOT, which comprises an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. His contributions to entertainment have been acknowledged through awards such as the Kennedy Center Honor, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the AFI Life Achievement Award, a British Film Institute Fellowship, the National Medal of Arts, and a BAFTA Fellowship.

Brooks began his career as a writer for Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, working alongside Mel Tolkin, Neil Simon, and Carl Reiner. He co-created the comedy sketch The 2000 Year Old Man with Reiner and won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for it. Alongside Buck Henry, he created the spy sitcom Get Smart. His screenplay for The Producers earned him an Academy Award. He gained further success with films such as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, History of the World, Part I, and Spaceballs. His musical adaptation of The Producers ran on Broadway from 2001 to 2007 and garnered 12 Tony Awards; it was later adapted into a film.

Through his company Brooksfilms, he produced notable movies including The Elephant Man, The Fly, and 84 Charing Cross Road. Alongside Anne Bancroft, whom he married in 1964, Brooks starred in a remake of To Be or Not To Be. Their son, Max Brooks, is an actor and author. Brooks authored a memoir titled All About Me! in 2021. His career was the subject of Judd Apatow's documentary Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!. His work has been recognized by the American Film Institute, which included several of his films on its 100 Years...100 Laughs list. In 2026, on his centenary, AFI moved Blazing Saddles to first place on the list.