Cast & creator
James L. Brooks
Best known for The Simpsons, The Simpsons, The Simpsons
James Lawrence Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is an American director, producer, screenwriter and co-founder of Gracie Films. He co-created the sitcoms The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, and The Simpsons and directed the films Terms of Endearment (1983), Broadcast News (1987), and As Good as It Gets (1997). He received numerous accolades, including three Academy Awards, 22 Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. Brooks started his career as an usher at CBS, going on to write for the CBS News broadcasts. He moved to Los Angeles in 1965 to work on David L. Wolper's documentaries. He wrote for My Mother the Car and My Friend Tony and created the series Room 222. Grant Tinker hired Brooks and producer Allan Burns at MTM Productions to create The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1970. Brooks and Burns then created two successful spin-offs from Mary Tyler Moore: Rhoda (a comedy) and Lou Grant (a drama). Brooks left MTM Productions in 1978 to co-create the sitcom Taxi (1978-1983). Brooks moved into feature film work when he wrote and co-produced the 1979 film Starting Over. His next project was the critically acclaimed film Terms of Endearment, which he produced, directed and wrote, winning an Academy Award for all three roles. He earned acclaim for his films Broadcast News (1987) and As Good as It Gets (1997). He received mixed reviews for I'll Do Anything (1994), Spanglish (2004), and How Do You Know (2010). Brooks also produced Cameron Crowe's Say Anything... (1989) and Wes Anderson's Bottle Rocket (1996). In 1986, Brooks founded Gracie Films, a television and film company. Although he did not intend to do so, Brooks returned to television in 1987 as the producer of The Tracey Ullman Show. He hired cartoonist Matt Groening to create a series of shorts for the show, which led in 1989 to The Simpsons. The Simpsons won numerous awards and is still running after over 35 years. Brooks also co-produced and co-wrote the 2007 film adaptation of the show, The Simpsons Movie. Brooks has received 53 Emmy nominations, winning 21 of them. Description above from the Wikipedia article James L. Brooks, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Also known as: James Lawrence Brooks
88
film credits
37
television credits
29
1960–2027 · acting roles
6.7
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (125)
Showing 125 of 125 credits
The Simpsons
James L. Brooks (voice)
1989The Simpsons
Executive Producer
1989The Simpsons
Writer
1989
Saturday Night Live
Paul Reynolds (uncredited)
1975
The Andy Griffith Show
Writer
1960
Taxi
Boxing Fan (uncredited)
1978Taxi
Writer
1978Taxi
Executive Producer
1978Taxi
Creator
1978
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Rabbi (uncredited)
1970The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Writer
1970The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Executive Producer
1970The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Creator
1970
Lou Grant
Executive Producer
1977Lou Grant
Creator
1977
The Doris Day Show
Writer
1968
Rhoda
Writer
1974Rhoda
Producer
1974Rhoda
Creator
1974
That Girl
Writer
1966
The Tracey Ullman Show
Writer
1987The Tracey Ullman Show
Executive Producer
1987The Tracey Ullman Show
Creator
1987
Room 222
Creator
1969
Prisoners of Gravity
Self
1989
The Critic
Producer
1994
The Simpsons Movie
Producer
2007The Simpsons Movie
Screenplay
2007
Jerry Maguire
Producer
1996
Yellow Mirror
Executive Producer
2026
Big
Producer
1988
My Mother the Car
Writer
1965
As Good as It Gets
Director
1997As Good as It Gets
Screenplay
1997As Good as It Gets
Producer
1997
Say Anything...
Executive Producer
1989
The Edge of Seventeen
Producer
2016
Ella McCay
Director
2025Ella McCay
Producer
2025Ella McCay
Writer
2025
My Own Private Idaho
Thanks
1991
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Producer
2023
Maggie Simpson in "Rogue Not Quite One"
Producer
2023
How Do You Know
Director
2010How Do You Know
Writer
2010How Do You Know
Producer
2010
Terms of Endearment
Screenplay
1983Terms of Endearment
Producer
1983Terms of Endearment
Director
1983
50/50
Thanks
2011
The War of the Roses
Producer
1989
The Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful
Executive Producer
2024
Phenom
Producer
1993
Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition
Executive Producer
2026
Disney Legends Award Ceremony
Self - Honoree
2024
The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling
Self
2018
The New Simpsons Movie
Producer
2027The New Simpsons Movie
Screenplay
2027
Spanglish
Director
2004Spanglish
Producer
2004Spanglish
Writer
2004Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers
Creator
1974
May the 12th Be with You
Producer
2024
Sibs
Producer
1991
Accidental Family
Writer
1967
The Good, the Bart, and the Loki
Producer
2021
Bottle Rocket
Executive Producer
1996
The Associates
Producer
1979The Associates
Creator
1979
Riding in Cars with Boys
Producer
2001
Broadcast News
Producer
1987Broadcast News
Director
1987Broadcast News
Writer
1987
Welcome to the Club
Producer
2022
Starting Over
Producer
1979Starting Over
Screenplay
1979
Simpsley
Executive Producer
2026
What About Joan?
Producer
2001
I'll Do Anything
Director
1994I'll Do Anything
Writer
1994I'll Do Anything
Producer
1994
The Simpsons in Plusaversary
Producer
2021
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Producer
2024
Jumpin' Jack Flash
Thanks
1986
Being Mary Tyler Moore
Self (voice)
2023
Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare"
Writer
2012Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare"
Producer
2012
When Billie Met Lisa
Producer
2022
Maggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny"
Writer
2020Maggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny"
Producer
2020
Maggie Simpson in "The Force Awakens from Its Nap"
Producer
2021
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life
Self
2023
Misery Loves Comedy
Self
2015
The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror
Writer
2003
The Simpsons: Too Hot For TV
Scenario Writer
1999
Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel
Self
2022
Harry Benson: Shoot First
Self
2016
Lost in America
Party Guest (uncredited)
1985
Ride
Thanks
2014
Alan Pakula: Going for Truth
Self
2019
Thank You Very Much
Self
2025
Mike Nichols: An American Master
Self
2016
The Simpsons: Tracey Ullman Shorts
Executive Producer
1987
The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special - In 3D! On Ice!
Self
2010
Modern Romance
David
1981Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild
Self
2004
Real Life
Driving Evaluator
1979
The Simpsons: America's First Family
Self
2000
Paddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words
Self
2025
Cindy
Writer
1978Cindy
Producer
1978
The Making of 'Bottle Rocket'
Self
2008
The Simpsons: Family Therapy
Producer
1989
James L. Brooks: A Singular Voice
Self (archive footage)
2011
Hans Zimmer: The Sound of Hollywood
Self
2011
Audience Research
Paul Reynold
1976The Best of the Tracey Ullman Show
Executive Producer
1990
The Simpsons | Balenciaga
Producer
2021
Icebox
Producer
2018
The Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their Craft
himself
1998
Carlton Your Doorman
Characters
1980
Dreams on Spec
Self
2007
Thursday's Game
Writer
1974Thursday's Game
Producer
1974