Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks was born on June 28, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York as Melvin Kaminsky. After graduating from Eastern District High School, he joined the United States army as a corporal defusing mines during World War II. In 1949, he was hired as a comedy writer by his friend Sid Caesar for the series The Admiral Broadway Revue. A year later, Caesar would hire Brooks again for the award-winning variety comedy series The Show of Shows.

As an actor, comedian, composer, director, producer, and writer the list of Mel Brooks works is extensive including The Producers (1967), Blazing Saddles (1974) and Spaceballs (1987). Over his career, Brooks has received countless awards including a star on the Hollywood walk of fame in 2010, the  41st AFI Life Achievement Award in 2013, and a BAFTA Fellowship in 2017. He also became one of only 12 people to win an Emmy, Grammy, a Tony and an Oscar.