James L. Brooks

Personal Info

Known For Producer

Gender Male

Birthday 1940-05-09 (84 years old)

Place of Birth North Bergen, New Jersey, USA

James L. Brooks

Biography

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.

Known For

Producer

Ella McCay

as Producer

2024
2024
2022
2022
2016
2010
How Do You Know

as Producer

2007
The Simpsons Movie

as Producer

2004
Spanglish

as Producer

2001
2001
What About Joan?

as Producer

1997
As Good as It Gets

as Producer

1996
Jerry Maguire

as Producer

1996
Bottle Rocket

as Executive Producer

1994
I'll Do Anything

as Producer

1994
The Critic

as Producer

1993
Phenom

as Producer

1991
Sibs

as Producer

1990
1990
Do the Bartman

as Executive Producer

1989
1989
Say Anything...

as Executive Producer

1989
The Simpsons

as Executive Producer

1989
The Simpsons

as Development Manager

1988
Big

as Producer

1987
Broadcast News

as Producer

1987
The Tracey Ullman Show

as Executive Producer

1983
1979
Starting Over

as Producer

1979
The Associates

as Producer

1978
Cindy

as Producer

1978
Taxi

as Executive Producer

1977
Lou Grant

as Producer

1974
Thursday's Game

as Producer

1974
Rhoda

as Producer

1970
The Mary Tyler Moore Show

as Executive Producer

Writer

Ella McCay

as Writer

2016
2010
How Do You Know

as Writer

2007
The Simpsons Movie

as Screenplay

2004
Spanglish

as Writer

1999
The Simpsons: Too Hot For TV

as Scenario Writer

1997
As Good as It Gets

as Screenplay

1994
1989
The Simpsons

as Writer

1987
Broadcast News

as Screenplay

1983
Terms of Endearment

as Screenplay

1980
Carlton Your Doorman

as Characters

1979
Starting Over

as Writer

1978
Cindy

as Writer

1978
Taxi

as Writer

1977
Lou Grant

as Writer

1974
Thursday's Game

as Writer

1974
Rhoda

as Writer

1968
1967
1966
That Girl

as Writer

1965

Actor

2023
Being Mary Tyler Moore

as Self (voice)

2011
James L. Brooks: A Singular Voice

as Self (archive footage)

2007
1989
The Simpsons

as James L. Brooks (voice)

1985
Lost in America

as Party Guest (uncredited)

1981
1979
Real Life

as Driving Evaluator

1976
Audience Research

as Paul Reynold

1970
The Mary Tyler Moore Show

as Rabbi (uncredited)

Creator

1987
1979
The Associates

as Creator

1978
Taxi

as Creator

1977
Lou Grant

as Creator

1974
Rhoda

as Creator

1969
Room 222

as Creator

Director

Ella McCay

as Director

2010
How Do You Know

as Director

2004
Spanglish

as Director

1997
As Good as It Gets

as Director

1994
I'll Do Anything

as Director

1987
Broadcast News

as Director

1983

Crew

2014
Ride

as Thanks

2011
50/50

as Thanks

1991
1986