Legendary actor, director, comedian and producerMel Brooksturned 97 years old on June 28, 2023. Look back at the EGOT winner’s life and career in photos over nearly a century, from his military service to his indelible mark on Hollywood’s humor scene.
01of 16Mel Brooks' Early YearsPenguin Random HouseBorn Melvin Kaminsky on June 28, 1926, Mel Brooks was the youngest of four boys born to Abraham and Kate Kaminsky. (He eventually adapted his mother’s maiden name, Brookman, into his stage name.)Abraham died when Brooks was only 2, leaving his brothers to help raise Mel and make ends meet in the household. (He’s pictured here at age 8 with, from left, cousin Merril and brothers Lenny, Irving and Bernie.)
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Mel Brooks' Early Years
Penguin Random House
Born Melvin Kaminsky on June 28, 1926, Mel Brooks was the youngest of four boys born to Abraham and Kate Kaminsky. (He eventually adapted his mother’s maiden name, Brookman, into his stage name.)
Abraham died when Brooks was only 2, leaving his brothers to help raise Mel and make ends meet in the household. (He’s pictured here at age 8 with, from left, cousin Merril and brothers Lenny, Irving and Bernie.)
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Mel Brooks' Time in the Army
But World War II put a pause on his burgeoning show business career, and he joined the Army Specialized Training Reserve program at the Virginia Military Institute before going to basic training at Fort Sill. He served overseas at the end of the war in various duties, but once again got a chance to work as a performer when he was asked to join a touring variety show to entertain the troops in the Army camps still stationed in Europe.
03of 16Mel Brooks' ‘The 2,000 Year Old Man’ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty ImagesBrooks got his start in comedy as a writer for Sid Caesar’sYour Show of Shows,after meeting Caesar when they both were comedians at “Borscht Belt” hotels in the Catskills. But he broke out as a star in his own right with his “2,000 Year Old Man” sketches, in which his best friend Carl Reiner (whom he met working on Caesar’s show)interviewed him in character as, you guessed it, a 2,000-year-old man.
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Mel Brooks’ ‘The 2,000 Year Old Man’
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Brooks got his start in comedy as a writer for Sid Caesar’sYour Show of Shows,after meeting Caesar when they both were comedians at “Borscht Belt” hotels in the Catskills. But he broke out as a star in his own right with his “2,000 Year Old Man” sketches, in which his best friend Carl Reiner (whom he met working on Caesar’s show)interviewed him in character as, you guessed it, a 2,000-year-old man.
04of 16Mel Brooks on ‘The Tonight Show’He became a household name for being a popular talk show guest — so in demand, in fact, that he appeared on the first-ever episode ofThe Tonight Show with Johnny Carson(seen here cracking up the host on the debut show in 1961).
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Mel Brooks on ‘The Tonight Show’
He became a household name for being a popular talk show guest — so in demand, in fact, that he appeared on the first-ever episode ofThe Tonight Show with Johnny Carson(seen here cracking up the host on the debut show in 1961).
05of 16Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft’s Love StoryDan Farrell/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesAlso in 1961, Brooks met the love of his life, actress Anne Bancroft. After seeing her rehearsing for a Perry Como show, he recalls in his autobiographyAll About Me!, “When the song was over, I leapt to my feet, applauded madly, and shouted, ‘Anne Bancroft! I love you!’ " They dated for three years, but Brooks hadn’t quite found his footing financially so he hesitated to propose.When his first sitcom,Get Smart!,took off, he and Bancroft finally wed at City Hall, he wrote, using her hoop earring in the place of the ring he’d forgotten.
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Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft’s Love Story
Dan Farrell/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Also in 1961, Brooks met the love of his life, actress Anne Bancroft. After seeing her rehearsing for a Perry Como show, he recalls in his autobiographyAll About Me!, “When the song was over, I leapt to my feet, applauded madly, and shouted, ‘Anne Bancroft! I love you!’ " They dated for three years, but Brooks hadn’t quite found his footing financially so he hesitated to propose.
When his first sitcom,Get Smart!,took off, he and Bancroft finally wed at City Hall, he wrote, using her hoop earring in the place of the ring he’d forgotten.
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Mel Brooks in ‘Blazing Saddles’
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07of 16Mel Brooks in ‘A History of the World, Part I’EverettHe continued to write, direct, produce and star in comedies throughout the years, including 1981’sA History of the World, Part I.(Seen here with Mary Margaret Humes.)
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Mel Brooks in ‘A History of the World, Part I’
Everett
He continued to write, direct, produce and star in comedies throughout the years, including 1981’sA History of the World, Part I.(Seen here with Mary Margaret Humes.)
08of 16Mel Brooks with His Son and Grandson at the Walk of FameMichael Tran/FilmMagicBrooks and Bancroft had one son together, Max, now a screenwriter himself. Max and his son Henry joined Brooks as he got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.Brooks also has three children from his first marriage to dancer Florence Baum: Stefanie, Nicky and Eddie, as well as a granddaughter, Samantha.
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Mel Brooks with His Son and Grandson at the Walk of Fame
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Brooks and Bancroft had one son together, Max, now a screenwriter himself. Max and his son Henry joined Brooks as he got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.
Brooks also has three children from his first marriage to dancer Florence Baum: Stefanie, Nicky and Eddie, as well as a granddaughter, Samantha.
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Mel Brooks’ Broadway Career
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10of 16Mel Brooks Is an EGOTMark Boster/Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesBrooks isone of the few entertainers to earn an EGOT(an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) — and in fact, he’s won multiple of each.
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Mel Brooks Is an EGOT
Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Brooks isone of the few entertainers to earn an EGOT(an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) — and in fact, he’s won multiple of each.
11of 16Mel Brooks on Losing Anne BancroftRon Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesBeforeher death from uterine cancerin 2005, Brooks and Bancroft were known for having a great love story —she would tell peoplethat when she heard his key in the door, she knew “the party’s about to start.“Brooks opened up to PEOPLE about his loss. “Living this life without her is not easy,” he said, adding that he cherishes their memories together: “There were a lot of great kisses and great spaghetti.”
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Mel Brooks on Losing Anne Bancroft
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Beforeher death from uterine cancerin 2005, Brooks and Bancroft were known for having a great love story —she would tell peoplethat when she heard his key in the door, she knew “the party’s about to start.”
Brooks opened up to PEOPLE about his loss. “Living this life without her is not easy,” he said, adding that he cherishes their memories together: “There were a lot of great kisses and great spaghetti.”
12of 16Mel Brooks Wins a Kennedy Center HonorRon Sachs-Pool/Getty ImagesBrooks has also been given some of the highest honors the United States can bestow on its artists, including a Kennedy Center honor in 2009 alongside Robert De Niro, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Brubeck and Grace Bumbrynd.
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Mel Brooks Wins a Kennedy Center Honor
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Brooks has also been given some of the highest honors the United States can bestow on its artists, including a Kennedy Center honor in 2009 alongside Robert De Niro, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Brubeck and Grace Bumbrynd.
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Mel Brooks Wins the National Medal of Arts
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14of 16Mel Brooks’ Lasting FriendshipsBruce Glikas/FilmMagicBrooks worked with some of the same actors again and again throughout his career. One of his most indelible working relationships and friendships was with the late Gene Wilder, who starred inYoung Frankenstein, The Producersand more. Here, Brooks and Wilder shared a moment at the Broadway opening ofYoung Frankenstein.
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Mel Brooks' Lasting Friendships
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Brooks worked with some of the same actors again and again throughout his career. One of his most indelible working relationships and friendships was with the late Gene Wilder, who starred inYoung Frankenstein, The Producersand more. Here, Brooks and Wilder shared a moment at the Broadway opening ofYoung Frankenstein.
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Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner’s Longtime Friendship
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“I met him in 1950 when he joined Sid Caesar onYour Show of Showsand we’ve been best friends ever since,“Brooks said at the time. “I loved him.”
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Mel Brooks' ‘Third Act’
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Brooks loved to work, and never slowed down for a minute. He toured the country doing shows, and when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he wrote his memoir, which he published in 2021.
source: people.com
