Read CNN’s Fast Facts about the life of legendary comedy writer, actor and filmmaker Mel Brooks.
Personal
Birth date: June 28, 1926
Birth place: Brooklyn, New York
Birth name: Melvin James Kaminsky
Father: Max Kaminsky, a process server
Mother: Kate (Brookman) Kaminsky
Marriages: Anne Bancroft (1964-2005, her death); Florence Baum (unavailable publicly-1962, divorced)
Children: with Anne Bancroft: Max; with Florence Baum: Stefanie, Nicky and Eddie
Education: Attended Virginia Military Institute as part of his Army training
Military: US Army, 1944-1945, Corporal
Other Facts
Brooks adopted the last name, «Brooks» from his mother’s maiden name, «Brookman.»
His parents were Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Brooks is one of an elite few known as EGOT winners. They have all won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award. His second wife, actress Anne Bancroft, was almost an EGOT winner herself. She collected Oscar, Emmy and Tony awards before her death from cancer in 2005. Nominated for three Academy Award and won one. Nominated for three Tony Awards and won three. Nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards and won four. He was also nominated for one Daytime Emmy. Nominated for 10 Grammy Awards and won three. Brooks learned how to play the drums in his youth from famous jazz musician Buddy Rich. Brooks makes appearances in his own films as an actor and an occasional voice-over artist. He played character roles in «Blazing Saddles», «High Anxiety», «Spaceballs» and «Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
