Cast & creator
Mel Brooks
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Simpsons, The Mike Douglas Show
Melvin James Brooks (né Kaminsky; June 28, 1926) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker, and songwriter. 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, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony). 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(1950–1954). There, he worked with Neil Simon, Woody Allen, Larry Gelbart, and Carl Reiner. With Reiner, he co-created the comedy sketch The 2000 Year Old Man. He released several comedy albums, starting with 2000 Year Old Man in 1960. Brooks received five nominations for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album, finally winning in 1999. With Buck Henry, he created the hit satirical spy comedy series Get Smart (1965–1970) on NBC television. Brooks won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Producers (1967). He then rose to prominence by directing a string of successful comedy films such as 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), Life Stinks (1991), 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 she died 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.
Also known as: Melvin James Kaminsky , Melvin James Brooks
176
film credits
66
television credits
154
1944–2027 · acting roles
6.5
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (242)
Showing 242 of 242 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
The Simpsons
Mel Brooks (voice)
1989
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003
Real Time with Bill Maher
Self
2003
Frasier
Tom (voice)
1993
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Mel Brooks
2000
Great Performances
Self
1971
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
1968
Tony Awards
Self - Winner
1956
Mad About You
Uncle Phil
1992
Get Smart
Writer
1965Get Smart
Creator
1965
Champs-Elysées
Self
1982
Wogan
Self
1982
Only Murders in the Building
Mel Brooks
2021
The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
Santa Claus (voice)
2002Film '72
Self
1971
The Electric Company
Blond-Haired Cartoon Man (voice)
1971
An Audience with...
Self
1978
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited)
1968
Toy Story 4
Melephant Brooks (voice)
2019
The Oscars
Self
1953
To Tell the Truth
Self - Panelist
2016
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
Self
2012
History of the World: Part II
Narrator (voice)
2023History of the World: Part II
Executive Producer
2023History of the World: Part II
Writer
2023History of the World: Part II
Creator
2023
Parkinson
Self - Guest
2004
The Little Rascals
Mr. Welling
1994
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
Vlad (voice)
2018
Hotel Transylvania 2
Vlad (voice)
2015
Spaceballs
President Skroob / Yogurt
1987Spaceballs
Producer
1987Spaceballs
Director
1987Spaceballs
Screenplay
1987
Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks
Wiley (voice)
2003
RTL Samstag Nacht
1993
The Frank Skinner Show
Self
1995
Ciné regards
Self
1978
Get Smart
Characters
2008
Glenn Martin, DDS
2009
Noel's House Party
1991
Live & Kicking
Self
1993
Primetime Glick
2001
The Hollywood Palace
Self
1964
The Wonderful World of Disney
Self
1954
Legends
Mel Funn (archive footage) (uncredited)
2006
Inside Comedy
Self
2012
Robots
Bigweld (voice)
2005
Ballerina
Luteau (US version)
2016Please Turn the Page
Self
1977
The David Susskind Show
Self
1959
Young Frankenstein
Werewolf / Cat / Victor Frankenstein (voice) (uncredited)
1974Young Frankenstein
Screenplay
1974Young Frankenstein
Director
1974Young Frankenstein
Screenstory
1974
Mr. Peabody & Sherman
Albert Einstein (voice)
2014
Somebody Feed Phil
Self
2018
The Fly II
Producer
1989
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Rabbi Tuckman
1993Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Screenplay
1993Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Director
1993Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Producer
1993
The Muppet Movie
Professor Max Krassman
1979
John Candy: I Like Me
Self - Director, Spaceballs
2025
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
Shogun (voice)
2022Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
Executive Producer
2022Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
Original Film Writer
2022
When Things Were Rotten
Guard (uncredited)
1975When Things Were Rotten
Producer
1975When Things Were Rotten
Writer
1975When Things Were Rotten
Creator
1975
Blazing Saddles
William Le Petomane / Indian Chief
1974Blazing Saddles
Director
1974Blazing Saddles
Screenplay
1974Blazing Saddles
Lyricist
1974Blazing Saddles
Songs
1974
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Prof. Abraham Van Helsing
1995Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Producer
1995Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Director
1995Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Screenplay
1995
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
Self
2026
Spaceballs: The Animated Series
President Skroob / Yogurt (voice)
2008Spaceballs: The Animated Series
Executive Producer
2008Spaceballs: The Animated Series
Main Title Theme Composer
2008Spaceballs: The Animated Series
Writer
2008Spaceballs: The Animated Series
Creator
2008
The Producers
Singer in "Springtime for Hitler" (voice) (uncredited)
1968The Producers
Director
1968The Producers
Songs
1968The Producers
Lyricist
1968The Producers
Writer
1968
The Producers
Hilda the Pigeon / Tom the Cat (voice)
2005The Producers
Screenplay
2005The Producers
Producer
2005The Producers
Songs
2005
Look Who's Talking Too
Mr. Toilet Man (voice)
1990
To Be or Not to Be
Dr. Frederick Bronski
1983To Be or Not to Be
Producer
1983
Forky Asks a Question
Melephant Brooks (voice)
2019
Spaceballs: The New One
President Skroob / Yogurt
2027Spaceballs: The New One
Producer
2027Spaceballs: The New One
Original Film Writer
2027
Life Stinks
Goddard Bolt
1991Life Stinks
Director
1991Life Stinks
Screenplay
1991Life Stinks
Producer
1991Life Stinks
Story
1991
High Anxiety
Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke
1977High Anxiety
Writer
1977High Anxiety
Producer
1977High Anxiety
Director
1977High Anxiety
Songs
1977
Flick Flack
1974
The Nutt House
Writer
1989The Nutt House
Creator
1989
The Paul Reiser Show
The Angry Cat (voice)
2011
The Nude Bomb
Characters
1980
84 Charing Cross Road
Executive Producer
1987Saturday Night Clive
1989
Silent Movie
Mel Funn
1976Silent Movie
Screenplay
1976Silent Movie
Director
1976
The Land of Sometimes
The Postman (voice)
2026
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
Joe Snow (voice)
2002
Broadway: The American Musical
Self
2004
The New Steve Allen Show
Self - 2000 Year Old Man
1961
The Silence of the Hams
Checkout Guest (uncredited)
1994
The Doctor and the Devils
Executive Producer
1985
The Ladies Man
Writer
1961
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
Lion victim (voice)
1975
The Twelve Chairs
Tikon
1970The Twelve Chairs
Director
1970The Twelve Chairs
Screenplay
1970
Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1980s, 1990s and 2000s
Self (archive)
2009
Hitler: The Comedy Years
Singer in 'Springtime for Hitler' (archive footage) (uncredited)
2007
Sam
Executive Producer
2015
Grown Ups 3
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story
Self
2018
Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic
Self
2023
Forky Asks a Question: What Is Love?
Melephant Brooks (voice)
2019
The Great Buster: A Celebration
Self
2018
The Last Laugh
Self
2016
History of the World: Part I
Moses / Comicus / Torquemada / Jacques / King Louis XVI
1981History of the World: Part I
Director
1981History of the World: Part I
Screenplay
1981History of the World: Part I
Producer
1981
Remembering Gene Wilder
Self
2024Very Young Frankenstein
Original Film Writer
Very Young Frankenstein
Executive Producer
The Hanging of Stuart Cornfeld
2025
The Muppets Go Hollywood
Self (uncredited)
1979
Solarbabies
Producer
1986
The Vagrant
Executive Producer
1992
Ride
Thanks
2014
Free to Be… You and Me
Baby Boy (voice)
1974Untitled Lani Pixels Project
Gatekeeper (voice)
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Self
2013
Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love
Self - Announcer (voice)
2023
If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast
Self
2017
From Darkness to Light
Self (archive footage)
2025Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s
Self (archive footage)
2007
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
Self
2013
Frank Sinatra: The Voice of the Century
Self (archive footage)
1998
The Great Dictator: The Clown Turns Prophet
Self (archive footage)
2011
Free to Be... a Family
Self
1988
Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies
Self
2017
Paddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words
Self
2025
An Audience with Mel Brooks
Self
1984An Audience with Mel Brooks
Writer
1984
Sex, Lies and Video Violence
Stressed old man
2000
Mel Brooks: The Genius Entertainer
Himself
2017
Back in the Saddle
Self
2001
Silent Laughter: The Reel Inspirations of 'Silent Movie'
Self
2009
'Robin Hood: Men in Tights' – The Legend Had It Coming
Self
1993
Sid Caesar Collection: Buried Treasures - The Legend of Sid Caesar
Himself
2003
Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story
Self
2017
Get Smart: A Man Called Smart
Writer
1967
Annie: The Women in the Life of a Man
Himself
1970Annie: The Women in the Life of a Man
Writer
1970
Spaceballs: The Totally Warped Animated Adventures
President Skroob/Yogurt
2008
Loose Shoes
Producer
1978
Making History: Mel Brooks on Creating the World
Self
2009
The Grammys
Self
1959
Hitchcock and Mel: Spoofing the Master of Suspense
Self
2009
Recording the Producers: A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks
Self / Host
2001Untitled Nathan Lane Documentary
Self
It's Alive: The True Story of Frankenstein
Self
1994
Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch
Self
1997
The Terrible Elephant Man Revealed
Self
2001
The Producers
Lyricist
2019The Producers
Writer
2019The Producers
Music
2019
Mel Brooks: Live at the Geffen
Self
2015Mel Brooks: Live at the Geffen
Writer
2015Mel Brooks: Live at the Geffen
Executive Producer
2015
Peeping Times
Adolf Hitler
1978
Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again
Self
2011
Musical Mel: Inventing The Inquisition
Self
2009
A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers
Self
2009
Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West
Self (archive footage)
2014
In the Beginning: The Caesar Years
Self
2012
Flower of the Dawn
Bürgermeister (voice)
2025
New Faces
Writer
1954The Sid Caesar Collection: Creating the Comedy
Himself
2000
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
Self
2016
Mickey's 50
Self
1978
Life Stinks: Does Life Really Stink?
Self
2003
Spaceballs: The Documentary
Self
2005John Candy: Comic Spirit
Self
2005
The Automat
Self
2021The Automat
Songs
2021
Excavating the 2000 Year Old Man
Self
2012
Screw Loose
Jake Gordon
1999Untitled Get Smart Reboot
Characters
Shinbone Alley
Author
1970Shinbone Alley
Writer
1970
Mel Brooks Strikes Back!
Self
2012
The 2000 Year Old Man
2000 Year Old Man (voice)
1975The 2000 Year Old Man
Writer
1975The Sid Caesar Collection: Inside the Writer's Room
Himself
2000
The Making of 'The Producers'
Self
2002Mel Brooks: Seriously... Well, Almost
Self
2024
Fatso
Producer
1980
Mel Brooks: Unwrapped
Self
2018
Addicted to It
Phoney Bunny
2026
It's Always About the Story: Conversations with Alan Ladd, Jr.
Himself
2016Enormous
Bernie (voice)
Funny Men in Tights: Three Generations of Comedy
Self
Spaceballs: In Conversation - Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Self
2005
Caesar's Writers
Self
1996
The Dick Cavett Show with Mel Brooks
Self
2006
Mickey's Audition
Movie Director
1992
Ruby's Studio: the Feelings Show
Sally Simon Simmons Narrator
2010
The Critic
Narrator (voice)
1963The Critic
Writer
1963The Critic
Creator
1963
Sunset People
Self
1984Inside Danny Baker
Writer
1963