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

Returned to features as writer/director with the Award-winning film As Good As It Gets ; earned an Oscar nomination for writing and Golden Globe nominations for writing and directing

Produced Cameron Crowe s Jerry Maguire starring Tom Cruise

Produced Wes Anderson s directorial debut, Bottle Rocket

Executive produced the animated series The Critic (ABC/FOX)

Executive produced the sitcom Phenom (ABC)

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

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

Wrote, produced and directed the Los Angeles production of Brooklyn Laundry

Co-wrote (with Burns) episodes of Eisenhower and Lutz (CBS)

Co-wrote (with Burns) episodes of The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (NBC/Lifetime)

Executive produced, co-created and served as executive consultant on The Tracey Ullman Show (FOX); also wrote sketches

First feature produced under Gracie Films, Broadcast News

Formed own production company, Gracie Films; named for comedienne Gracie Allen

Wrote scripts for the short-lived sitcom The Duck Factory (NBC) starring Jim Carrey

Feature directing debut (also wrote and producer), Terms of Endearment

Executive produced and co-created The Associates (ABC); also wrote scripts

First film as producer and writer, Starting Over

Executive produced the sitcom Taxi (ABC 1978-82; NBC 1982-83)

Made feature acting debut in Real Life

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

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

Executive produced the Mary Tyler Moore 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 several episodes

Credited as executive story editor of TV series Room 222 (ABC)

Wrote scripts for the sitcom My Friend Tony (NBC)

Moved to Los Angeles and worked for David L Wolper Productions

Began his television career as a writer for CBS News