Look back at the legendary career of Mel Brooks – Charm

Jan. 22, 2026, 12:42 p.m. ET

Director Mel Brooks has had a legendary Hollywood career as a comedian, actor, director, writer and producer. The EGOT winner displays his cement covered hands during his Hand and Footprint Ceremony on the 40th anniversary of his movie "Young Frankenstein,'' in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Sept. 8, 2014. Ever the comedian, he wore a prosthetic finger on his left hand. "I wanted to do something just a little different, I didn't know what," he told Conan O'Brien on a "Conan" appearance shortly after. "So I got another finger."

The wet cement impressions left by Brooks during his Hand and Footprint Ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

MARK RALSTON, AFP Via Getty Images

Brooks, left, met Carl Reiner through their work in the 1950s on Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows,” which led to their iconic sketch the “2,000 Year-Old Man.” In the skit (here on “The New Steve Allen Show” on Oct. 18, 1961), Brooks, as a 2,000 year-old man, would improvise answers to questions by Reiner. The two became life-long best friends. “My life is fuller because I’ve had Mel in my life,” Reiner once said. “If he doesn’t come over, I don’t know what to do with myself.”

Disney General Entertainment Content Via Getty Images

Brooks wrote and directed the 1967 film, “The Producers,” a satire about an accountant and con artist who stage a Broadway show celebrating Hitler. It was his first collaboration with Gene Wilder (left), and also starred Zero Mostel (right) and Kenneth Mars. It initially garnered a mixed reception and just broke even at the box often, but later gained in stature as one of Brooks’ funniest films and in 1996 was added to the National Film Registry.

Screen Archives, Getty Images

After Brooks’ success with “The Producers,” his wife, Anne Bancroft, encouraged him to write the title song for his next film, “The Twelve Chairs,” based on the Russian novel of the same name. Brooks wrote “Hope for the Best, Expect the Worst” and the script, played Tikon (above), and directed the 1970 film. His costars included Frank Langella and Dom DeLuise.

Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images

A satire of classic Westerns, “Blazing Saddles”was released in early 1974 and nominated for three Academy Awards. The film starred Harvey Korman and Robyn Hilton (here in a scene with cows walking through an office). One of Brooks’ cowriters was Richard Pryor, but he lost out on the role of sheriff to Cleavon Little. Gene Wilder was a last-minute replacement as the Waco Kid after Gig Young collapsed during his first scene.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

Brooks and Wilder (center) reunited immediately to cowrite “Young Frankenstein,” released in 1974. They almost got into a fistfight on set, but the film (which included Peter Boyle as the Monster, Marty Feldman, left, as Igor, and Teri Garr as Inga) became a box office hit.

Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection, Getty Images

Another comedy ensemble, 1976’s “Silent Movie” starred Dom DeLuise, Marty Feldman and Brooks. Cameos included Anne Bancroft, Burt Reynolds, Liza Minnelli and Paul Newman. The movie was indeed silent, with the exception of mime artist Marcel Marceau uttering a resounding, “Non!”

Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images

Brooks produced, directed and starred in “High Anxiety,” in 1977. The film, with Madeline Kahn (left), parodied psychoanalysis and Hitchcock movies.

Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection, Getty Images

1980’s “The Elephant Man,” with John Hurt, would not have been possible without Brooks. He hired David Lynch and was the executive producer, but intentionally left his name out of the credits so that audiences would not expect a comedy instead of a serious drama.

Images Press, Getty Images

Brooks was again a multi-hyphenate writer/director/producer of “History of the World: Part I” in 1981. He also played five roles in the film, including King Louis XVI (above).

Brooksfilms, ZUMA Press Wire Via Reuters Connect

As with “The Elephant Man,” Brooks withheld his name from the credits of “Frances.” Jessica Lange (left) received and Academy Award nomination for her role in the film about a real-life 1930s actress (Frances Farmer) who becomes dependent on alcohol and drugs and suffers a nervous breakdown after being blacklisted in Hollywood.

Brooksfilms, ZUMA Press Wire Via Reuters Connect

“To Be or Not to Be,” in 1983, was the first time Brooks starred with his wife, Anne Bancroft. In the war comedy, the couple run a theater troupe trying to escape Occupied Poland. Critics received it relatively favorably, but it fizzled at the box office.

Archive Photos, Getty Images

Brooks was an uncredited producer on the 1986 sci-fi thriller “The Fly,” starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis and directed by David Cronenberg. He is credited with coining the famous line, “Be afraid. Be very afraid,” which became the movie’s tagline.

Sunset Boulevard, Corbis Via Getty Images

In a galaxy very, very, very, very far away, Brooks satirized “Star Wars” with “Spaceballs.” In addition to his behind camera work, he played President Skroob, (the name an anagram of Brooks) in addition to other characters, including “Yogurt” (above). George Lucas agreed to let Brooks make the 1987 film as long as no “Spaceballs” action figures would be made. It became a cult classic, and a “Spaceballs II” is scheduled to be released in 2027.

Peter Sorel/MGM, ZUMA Press Wire Via Reuters Connect

A comedy but not a parody, 1991’a “Life Stinks” was an attempt to look at the issue of homelessness. While critics called it “warmhearted,” they also found it depressing, and it flopped.

ZUMA Movie Stills Library, ZUMA Press Wire Via Reuters Connect

Cary Elwes led the cast of “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” in 1993. As with many of Brooks’ projects, the film united comedy greats including Richard Lewis, Tracey Ullman and Dom DeLuise — as well as a new upstart by the name of Dave Chappelle (left).

Brooksfilms, ZUMA Press Wire Via Reuters Connect

For “Dracula: Dead and Loving It” in 1995, Brooks parodied Bram Stoker’s classic and cast Leslie Nielsen to star.

Peter Sorel / Via Everett Collection

David Geffen persuaded Brooks to adapt “The Producers” for the stage, and the show made its Broadway debut in April, 2001. Nathan Lane (left) and Matthew Broderick played the producer and accountant, respectively, and the musical was a massive hit, winning a record 12 Tony Awards.

REUTERS