James Brooks

Appeared along with screenwriters Nora Ephron and Carrie Fisher in Dreams on Spec, the first documentary about screenwriters and screenwriting

Executive produced and co-scripted The Simpsons Movie

Wrote and directed the comedy Spanglish starring Adam Sandler and Téa Leoni

Had a cameo in The Simpsons (Fox) episode A Star Is Born-Again

Won renewed attention for his film As Good As It Gets ; film received seven Oscar nominations including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay

Served as an executive producer on the animated series The Critic (ABC and Fox)

Was an executive producer of sitcom Phenom (ABC)

With Matt Groening and Sam Simon, executive produced the animated series The Simpsons

Wrote, produced and directed play Brooklyn Laundry in L.A.

With Burns, wrote for Eisenhower and Lutz

Executive produced, co-created with Burns, Jerry Belson, Heide Perlman ad Ken Estin and served as executive consultant on The Tracey Ullman Show (Fox); also wrote sketches

First feature produced under Gracie Films, Broadcast News

Established his own production company, Gracie Films, named for comedienne Gracie Allen

Wrote scripts for The Duck Factory (NBC), a short-lived sitcom that starred Jim Carrey

Feature directing debut (also writer, producer), Terms of Endearment

Executive produced with Daniels and Weinberger and co-created with Daniels, Weinberger and Charlie Hauck The Associates (ABC); also wrote scripts

First film as producer and writer, Starting Over

Film acting debut in Real Life

With Stan Daniels, Ed. Weinberger and David Davis, executive produced the sitcom Taxi (ABC 1978-82; NBC 1982-83)

Executive produced (with Burns and Gene Reynolds) the drama series Lou Grant (CBS); also wrote scripts

Executive produced (with Burns and Charlotte Brown) the spinoff sitcom Rhoda (CBS); also wrote scripts

Co-wrote (with Michael Zagor) the pilot for Going Places (NBC)

Co-created and executive produced (with Allan Burns) The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS); also wrote scripts

Credited as creator of TV series Room 222 (ABC)

Wrote scripts for My Friend Tony (NBC)

Moved to L.A.; worked for David L Wolper Productions

Born in Brooklyn; raised in North Bergen, NJ, by his mother

Co-created and executive produced (with Burns) Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers (CBS); also wrote scripts

Executive produced and served as creative consultant on sitcom Sibs (ABC)

With Burns, wrote scripts for The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (NBC and Lifetime)