Biography
Brooks was a powerful comedic force on both the big screen and on television, creating multi-awarding winning fare that also proved to be smashing popular hits. After getting his start as a writer on shows like "The Andy Griffith Show" (CBS, 1960-68) and "My Three Sons" (ABC/CBS, 1960-1972), Brooks created "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (CBS, 1970-77), a groundbreaking sitcom centered around a single, independent woman that earned several Emmy …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
1964 | Began his television career as a writer for CBS News |
1966 | Moved to Los Angeles and worked for David L Wolper Productions |
1969 | Credited as executive story editor of TV series "Room 222" (ABC) |
1969 | Wrote scripts for the sitcom "My Friend Tony" (NBC) |
1970 | Co-created and executive produced (with Allan Burns) "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (CBS); also wrote several episodes |
1973 | Co-wrote (with Michael Zagor) the pilot for "Going Places" (NBC) |
1974 | Co-created and executive produced (with Burns) "Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers" (CBS); also wrote episodes |
1974 | Executive produced the "Mary Tyler Moore" spinoff sitcom, "Rhoda" (CBS); also wrote scripts |
1977 | Executive produced (with Burns and Gene Reynolds) the drama series "Lou Grant" (CBS); also wrote scripts |
1978 | Executive produced the sitcom "Taxi" (ABC 1978-82; NBC 1982-83) |
1978 | Made feature acting debut in "Real Life" |
1979 | Executive produced and co-created "The Associates" (ABC); also wrote scripts |
1979 | First film as producer and writer, "Starting Over" |
1983 | Feature directing debut (also wrote and producer), "Terms of Endearment" |
1984 | Formed own production company, Gracie Films; named for comedienne Gracie Allen |
1984 | Wrote scripts for the short-lived sitcom "The Duck Factory" (NBC) starring Jim Carrey |
1987 | Co-wrote (with Burns) episodes of "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd" (NBC/Lifetime) |
1987 | Executive produced, co-created and served as executive consultant on "The Tracey Ullman Show" (FOX); also wrote sketches |
1987 | First feature produced under Gracie Films, "Broadcast News" |
1988 | Co-wrote (with Burns) episodes of "Eisenhower and Lutz" (CBS) |
1989 | Produced Cameron Crowe's "Say Anything..." |
1990 | With Matt Groening and Sam Simon, executive produced the animated series "The Simpsons" |
1990 | Wrote, produced and directed the Los Angeles production of "Brooklyn Laundry" |
1991 | Executive produced and served as creative consultant on sitcom "Sibs" (ABC) |
1993 | Executive produced the sitcom "Phenom" (ABC) |
1994 | Executive produced the animated series "The Critic" (ABC/FOX) |
1996 | Produced Cameron Crowe's "Jerry Maguire" starring Tom Cruise |
1996 | Produced Wes Anderson's directorial debut, "Bottle Rocket" |
1997 | 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 |
2003 | Had a cameo in "The Simpsons" (FOX) episode "A Star Is Born-Again" |
2004 | Wrote and directed the comedy "Spanglish" starring Adam Sandler and Téa Leoni |
2007 | Appeared along with screenwriters Nora Ephron and Carrie Fisher in "Dreams on Spec," the first documentary about screenwriters and screenwriting |
2007 | Executive produced and co-scripted "The Simpsons Movie" |
2010 | Returned to directing with the comedy, "How Do You Know," starring Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Jack Nicholson; also wrote and produced |
Awards
1971 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Series in The Mary Tyler Moore Show |
1971 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Series - Comedy in The Mary Tyler Moore Show |
1971 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Achievement In Comedy in The Mary Tyler Moore Show |
1972 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Series - Comedy in The Mary Tyler Moore Show |
1973 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in The Mary Tyler Moore Show |
1973 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Achievement In Comedy in The Mary Tyler Moore Show |
1974 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in The Mary Tyler Moore Show |
1975 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in Rhoda |
1975 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in The Mary Tyler Moore Show |
1975 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Comedy Series in Rhoda |
1976 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in The Mary Tyler Moore Show |
1977 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in The Mary Tyler Moore Show |
1977 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Comedy Series in The Mary Tyler Moore Show |
1978 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in Lou Grant |
1979 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in Taxi |
1980 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in Taxi |
1981 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in Taxi |
1982 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in Taxi |
1983 | Academy Award for Best Picture in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | Academy Award for Directing in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | Academy Award for Writing (Screenplay Based On Material From Another Medium) in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Director in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | National Board of Review Award for Best Director in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in Taxi |
1987 | Academy Award for Best Picture in Broadcast News |
1987 | Academy Award for Writing (Screenplay Written Directly For the Screen) in Broadcast News |
1987 | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay in Broadcast News |
1987 | Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in Broadcast News |
1987 | Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in Broadcast News |
1987 | Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture in Broadcast News |
1987 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director in Broadcast News |
1987 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay in Broadcast News |
1987 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program in The Tracey Ullman Show |
1987 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in The Tracey Ullman Show |
1988 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program in The Tracey Ullman Show |
1988 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in The Tracey Ullman Show |
1989 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program in The Tracey Ullman Show |
1989 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in The Tracey Ullman Show |
1990 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire |
1990 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
1990 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series in The Tracey Ullman Show |
1990 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special in The Tracey Ullman Show |
1990 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in The Tracey Ullman Show |
1991 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
1992 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
1995 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
1996 | Academy Award for Best Picture in Jerry Maguire |
1996 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
1997 | Academy Award for Best Picture in As Good As It Gets |
1997 | Academy Award for Writing (Screenplay Written Directly For the Screen) in As Good As It Gets |
1997 | Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in As Good As It Gets |
1997 | Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in As Good As It Gets |
1997 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
1998 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
1999 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
2000 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
2001 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
2002 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
2003 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
2004 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
2005 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
2006 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
2007 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
2008 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
2009 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) in The Simpsons |
2010 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in The Simpsons |