James L. Brooks
James L. Brooks |
![Jameslbrooks.jpg](/2009-wikipedia_en_wp1-0.7_2009-05/I/180px_Jameslbrooks.jpg)
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Born |
May 9, 1940 (1940-05-09) (age 69)
Brooklyn, New York, USA |
Spouse(s) |
Holly Beth Holmberg (1978-1999)[1]
Marianne Catherine Morrissey (m. 1964) |
Official website |
Awards won |
Academy Awards |
Best Director
1983 Terms of Endearment
Best Picture
1983 Terms of Endearment
Best Adapted Screenplay
1983 Terms of Endearment |
Emmy Awards |
Outstanding Comedy Series
1975, 1976, 1977 The Mary Tyler Moore Show
1979, 1980, 1981 Taxi
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
1971, 1977 The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program
1989 The Tracey Ullman Show
Writing in a Variety or Music Program
1990 The Tracey Ullman Show
Outstanding Animated Program
1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008 The Simpsons |
Golden Globe Awards |
Best Screenplay
1984 Terms of Endearment
Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
1998 As Good as it Gets |
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James L. Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is an American producer, screenwriter and director. He is known for producing television programs such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Simpsons (in which he created miscellaneous characters, including the Bouvier family), Rhoda and Taxi. His best-known film is Terms of Endearment, for which he received three Academy Awards in 1984. For his various television shows he has been awarded nineteen Primetime Emmys. He has also won two Golden Globe Awards.
Biography
Personal life
Brooks was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Dorothy Helen (née Sheinheit) and Edward M. Brooks.[2] He was raised in North Bergen, New Jersey in a Jewish family.[3] Brooks has donated over $175,000 to Democratic Party candidates.[4]
Career
Brooks began his television career as a writer for CBS News from 1964 to 1966. After working for the ABC television series Room 222 as executive story editor, Brooks was hired along with writing partner Allan Burns by television executive Grant Tinker to create a show that would later become The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show became a critical and commercial success and spawned other television shows created by Brooks and Burns such as Rhoda, Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, Taxi, The Associates, and Lou Grant. Brooks often sat in the studio audience of shows that he produced in the 1970s. Viewers can usually tell whether Brooks was in the audience by his distinctive loud guffaw. He would also make occasional cameo appearances.
In 1978, Brooks began work on feature motion films. His first project was being writer and co-producer on the film Starting Over and later wrote, produced and directed Terms of Endearment in 1983. Brooks later started his own film and television production company, Gracie Films, in 1984. Gracie Films would produce the television series The Tracey Ullman Show and its spin-off, The Simpsons as well as the animated series The Critic. Gracie Films' notable film productions were Jerry Maguire, As Good as It Gets, Big, Bottle Rocket and Broadcast News.
Brooks had a cameo in The Simpsons episode "A Star Is Born-Again". He also played a semi-fictional version of himself in friend Albert Brooks' comedy Modern Romance as an opinionated film director.
Brooks mentored Cameron Crowe and was the executive producer of Crowe's directorial debut Say Anything.... Crowe recalled later in an interview of the film's anniversary that he approached Brooks and told him about these ideas he had. Upon hearing this, Brooks encouraged Crowe to keep writing. Brooks also mentored Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson after they brought Bottle Rocket to his attention. Owen believes they wouldn't have gotten the film made if it wasn't for Brooks' help. In 2007, Brooks appeared -- along with star Hollywood screenwriters Nora Ephron, Carrie Fisher, and others -- in Dreams on Spec, a documentary about filmmaking. Brooks is one of the few people thanked during the end credits for the film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.
Filmography
- My Three Sons (1960)
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960)
- My Mother The Car (1965) (writer)
- Mary Tyler Moore (1970) (producer)
- Rhoda (1974) (producer)
- Thursday's Game (1974) (Writer-Producer)
- Taxi (1978) (producer)
- Terms of Endearment (1983) (director) (writer) (producer)
- The Tracey Ullman Show (1987) (producer)
- Broadcast News (1987) (director) (writer) (producer)
- Big (1988) (producer)
- Say Anything... (1989) (producer)
- The Simpsons (1989-present) (executive producer)
- I'll Do Anything (1994) (director) (writer) (producer)
- The Critic (1994) (executive producer)
- Bottle Rocket (1996) (producer)
- Jerry Maguire (1996) (producer)
- As Good as It Gets (1997) (director) (writer) (producer)
- Spanglish (2004) (director) (writer) (producer)
- The Simpsons Movie (2007) (producer) (screenplay)
Further reading
References
External links
Links to related articles |
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The Simpsons writers |
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Current writers
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J. Stewart Burns · Dan Castellaneta · Daniel Chun · Joel H. Cohen · Kevin Curran · John Frink · Stephanie Gillis · Dan Greaney · Matt Groening · Ron Hauge · Al Jean · Billy Kimball · Deb Lacusta · Tim Long · Ian Maxtone-Graham · George Meyer · David Mirkin · Bill Odenkirk · Carolyn Omine · Don Payne · Michael Price · Mike Reiss · Mike Scully · Matt Selman · Matt Warburton · Jeff Westbrook · Marc Wilmore
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Former recurring writers
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Richard Appel · James L. Brooks · Donick Cary · David X. Cohen · Jonathan Collier · Jennifer Crittenden · Greg Daniels · Larry Doyle · Brent Forrester · Dana Gould · Ken Keeler · Brian Kelley · Jay Kogen · Jeff Martin · Tom Martin · Dan McGrath · Frank Mula · Bill Oakley · Conan O'Brien · Jace Richdale · Brian Scully · Sam Simon · David M. Stern · John Swartzwelder · Julie Thacker · Steve Tompkins · Jon Vitti · Josh Weinstein · Wallace Wolodarsky
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One or two-time writers
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Bob Bendetson · Michael Carrington · Robert Cohen · Spike Feresten · Ricky Gervais · Howard Gewirtz · Ned Goldreyer · Reid Harrison · Mick Kelly · Andrew Kreisberg · Bob Kushell · Adam I. Lapidus · Rob LaZebnik · Ken Levine · Steve O'Donnell · Steve Pepoon · Bill Freiberger · Mimi Pond · Rachel Pulido · David Richardson · David Sacks · Nell Scovell · Joshua Sternin · Jeffrey Ventimilia · Patric Verrone · Steve Young
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Academy Award for Best Director |
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· (1927–1940) · (1941–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001-present)
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Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series |
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James Allardice / Jack Douglas / Hal Kanter / Harry Winkler (1955) · Arnold M. Auerbach / Barry Blitser / Vincent Bogert / Nat Hiken / Coleman Jacoby / Harvey Orkin / Arnold Rosen / Terry Ryan / Tony Webster (1956) · Billy Friedberg / Nat Hiken / Coleman Jacoby / Arnold Rosen / A.J. Russell / Terry Ryan / Phil Sharp / Tony Webster / Sidney Zelinka (1958) · George Balzer / Hal Goldman / Al Gordon / Sam Perrin (1959) · George Balzer / Hal Goldman / Al Gordon / Sam Perrin (1960) · Dave O'Brien / Martin Ragaway / Sherwood Schwartz / Al Schwartz / Red Skelton (1961) · Carl Reiner (1962) · Carl Reiner (1963) · Sam Denoff / Bill Persky (1966) · Buck Henry / Leonard B. Stern (1967) · Allan Burns / Chris Hayward (1968) · James L. Brooks / Allan Burns (1971) · Burt Styler (1972) · Lee Kalcheim / Michael Ross / Bernard West (1973) · Treva Silverman (1974) · Rosalyn Drexler / Ann Elder / Karyl Geld Miller / Robert Illes / Lorne Michaels / Richard Pryor / Jim Rusk / Herb Sargent / James R. Stein / Lily Tomlin / Jane Wagner / Rod Warren / George Yanok (1974) · Stan Daniels / Ed. Weinberger (1975)
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(1955-1975) · (1976-2000) ·
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Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series |
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David Lloyd (1976) · James L. Brooks / Allan Burns / Stan Daniels / Bob Ellison / David Lloyd / Ed. Weinberger (1977) · Harve Brosten / Barry Harman / Bob Schiller / Bob Weiskopf (1978) R.J. Colleary (1980) · Michael J. Leeson (1981) · Ken Estin (1982) · Glen Charles / Les Charles (1983) · David Angell (1984) · Ed. Weinberger / Michael J. Leeson (1985) · Barry Fanaro / Mort Nathan (1986) · Hugh Wilson (1987) · Diane English (1989) · Bob Brush (1990) · Gary Dontzig / Steven Peterman (1991) · Elaine Pope / Larry Charles (1992) · Larry David (1993) · David Angell / Peter Casey / David Lee (1994) · Chuck Ranberg / Anne Flett-Giordano (1995) · Joe Keenan / Christopher Lloyd / Rob Greenberg / Jack Burditt / Chuck Ranberg / Anne Flett-Giordano / Linda Morris / Vic Rauseo (1996) · Ellen DeGeneres / Mark Driscoll / Dava Savel / Tracy Newman / Jonathan Stark (1997) · Peter Tolan / Garry Shandling (1998) · Jay Kogen (1999) · Linwood Boomer (2000)
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(1955-1975) · (1976-2000) ·
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Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program |
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Specials |
John Bradford / Cy Coleman / Bob Wells (1975) · Ann Elder / Christopher Guest / Lorne Michaels / Earl Pomerantz / Jim Rusk / Lily Tomlin / Jane Wagner / Rod Warren / George Yanok (1976) · Buz Kohan / Ted Strauss (1977) · Chevy Chase / Tom Davis / Al Franken / Charles Grodin / Lorne Michaels / Paul Simon / Lily Tomlin / Alan Zweibel (1978)
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Series |
Roger Beatty / Gary Belkin / Dick Clair / Rudy De Luca / Arnie Kogen / Barry Levinson / Jenna McMahon / Gene Perret / Bill Richmond / Ed Simmons (1975) · Anne Beatts / Chevy Chase / Tom Davis / Al Franken / Lorne Michaels / Marilyn Suzanne Miller / Michael O'Donoghue / Herb Sargent / Tom Schiller / Rosie Shuster / Alan Zweibel (1976) · Dan Aykroyd / John Belushi / Tom Davis / James Downey / Al Franken / Lorne Michaels / Marilyn Suzanne Miller / Bill Murray / Michael O'Donoghue / Herb Sargent / Tom Schiller / Rosie Shuster / Alan Zweibel (1977) · Roger Beatty / Dick Clair / Tim Conway / Rick Hawkins / Robert Illes / Jenna McMahon / Gene Perret / Bill Richmond / Liz Sage / Larry Siegel / Franelle Silver / Ed Simmons / James Stein (1978)
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1979-2000 |
Alan Alda (1979) · Buz Kohan (1980) · Jerry Juhl / Chris Langham / David Odell (1981) · Jeffrey Barron / Dick Blasucci / John Candy / Chris Cluess / Bob Dolman / Joe Flaherty / Paul Flaherty / Stuart Kreisman / Eugene Levy / Andrea Martin / John McAndrew / Brian McConnachie / Rick Moranis / Catherine O'Hara / Mert Rich / Michael Short / Doug Steckler / Dave Thomas (1982) · Dick Blasucci / John Candy / Bob Dolman / Joe Flaherty / Paul Flaherty / Eugene Levy / Andrea Martin / John McAndrew / Martin Short / Michael Short / Doug Steckler / Mary Charlotte Wilcox (1983) · Chris Elliott / Sanford Frank / Ted Greenberg / David Letterman / Merrill Markoe / Jeff Martin / Gerard Mulligan / Steve O'Donnell / Joseph E. Toplyn / Matt Wickline / David Yazbek (1984) · Randy Cohen / Kevin Curran / Chris Elliott / Sandy Frank / Eddie Gorodetsky / Fred Graver / Larry Jacobson / David Letterman / Merrill Markoe / Jeff Martin / Gerard Mulligan / Joe Toplyn / Matt Wickline (1985) · Randy Cohen / Kevin Curran / Chris Elliott / Sandy Frank / Fred Graver / Larry Jacobson / David Letterman / Merrill Markoe / Jeff Martin / Gerard Mulligan / Steve O'Donnell / Joe Toplyn / Matt Wickline (1986) · Randy Cohen / Kevin Curran / Chris Elliott / Sandy Frank / Fred Graver / Larry Jacobson / David Letterman / Jeff Martin / Gerard Mulligan / Steve O'Donnell / Adam Resnick / Joe Toplyn / Matt Wickline (1987) · Jackie Mason (1988) · John Bowman / A. Whitney Brown / Gregory Daniels / Tom Davis / James Downey / Al Franken / Shannon Gaughan / Jack Handey / Phil Hartman / George Meyer / Lorne Michaels / Mike Myers / Conan O'Brien / Bob Odenkirk / Herb Sargent / Tom Schiller / Robert Smigel / Bonnie Turner / Terry Turner / Christine Zander (1989) · Billy Crystal (1990) · Jerry Belson / James L. Brooks / Marc Flanagan / Dinah Kirgo / Jay Kogen / Marilyn Suzanne Miller / Heide Perlman / Ian Praiser / Sam Simon / Tracey Ullman / Wallace Wolodarsky (1990) · Billy Crystal / Hal Kanter / Buz Kohan / David Steinberg / Bruce Vilanch / Robert Wuhl (1991) · David Feldman / Eddie Feldmann / Mike Gandolfi / Tom Hertz / Leah Krinsky / Dennis Miller / Rick Overton (1996) · Chris Rock (1997) · Jose Arroyo / David Feldman / Eddie Feldmann / Jim Hanna / Leah Krinsky / Dennis Miller / David Weiss (1998) · Tom Agna / Vernon Chatman / Louis CK / Lance Crouther / Gregory Greenberg / Ali LeRoi / Steve O'Donnell / Chris Rock / Frank Sebastiano / Chuck Sklar / Jeff Stilson / Wanda Sykes-Hall / Mike Upchurch (1999) · Eddie Izzard (2000)
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(1957-1974) · (1975-2000) · (2001-present)
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Films directed by James L. Brooks |
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Terms of Endearment (1983) • Broadcast News (1987) • I'll Do Anything (1994) • As Good as It Gets (1997) • Spanglish (2004)
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