Comedy legend Mel Brooks turns 100
His parody of Hitler in the landmark 1968 movie "The Producers" was just the beginning for US actor Mel Brooks. The 100-year-old comedian is still
His parody of Hitler in the landmark 1968 movie "The Producers" was just the beginning for US actor Mel Brooks. The 100-year-old comedian is still on a roll. It's often easier in retrospect to see how an artist has paved the way for others. Nowadays, making fun of anything and everything is commonplace and even Nazi parodies are a dime a dozen. But it hasn't always been that way, as a look at the work of director and actor Mel Brooks shows. Born 100 years ago on June 28, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York, the entertainer was clearly a pioneer of satire. The taboo-breaker Though they may have become more common than in the decades following World War II, taking a humorous look at the Nazis may not be everybody's cup of tea, especially not in Germany. Some jokes about Hitler aren't funny at all — that's at least what some people think, and that's also what some of them probably thought when watching Mel Brooks' breakthrough film, "The Producers," back in 1968.
In spite of some criticism, Brooks' work was crowned with success. The US filmmaker with Jewish roots had thoroughly learned his trade on the stage and in television before he became a filmmaker, setting a tone that was all his own. Some observers have noted the difference between the humor of Mel Brooks and that of Woody Allen, though Brooks' jokes are less intellectual and sophisticated, more ribald and even brute. Brooks had a phenomenal start in the film world with "The Producers" in 1968 Image: Everett Collection/picture alliance A much-acclaimed comedian In the 1970s and 80s, Mel Brooks conquered a worldwide audience with his very own brand of humor. Furthermore, he was active in several branches of pop culture, theater, cinema and television throughout his life. In 2001, he also gave proof of his remarkable talent for musicals when a musical version of his debut film, "The Producers," hit Broadway, earning him no less than 12 Tonys, making it the most acclaimed Broadway musical ever.
Mel Brooks is one of very few entertainment artists that have received the highest awards in four major cultural spheres: He's won one Oscar and several Tonys, Emmys and Grammys. Brooks receiving an Honorary Oscar for his lifetime achievement in 2024 Image: ROBYN BECK/AFP Brooks was married to US actress Anne Bancroft, until her death in 2005. She was also an icon of film history, starring as Mrs. Robinson in "The Graduate" opposite Dustin Hoffman. Keeping up with the times Despite getting older, Mel Brooks has continued to be actively involved in showbiz, appearing on television and lending his voice to the protagonists of animated films. In keeping with his age, Mel Brooks started taking things a bit easier. But that doesn't mean the comedian is ready to retire. A stage version of his film "Young Frankenstein" was produced at London's West End in 2017; the comedy special "Mel Brooks: Unwrapped" aired on HBO in 2019; and "The Mel Brooks Songbook" — featuring 23 songs from his films and shows — was released in 2021.
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