Jom broek biography

American filmmaker (born 1940)

James L. Brooks
Brooks outline 2007
Born	James Lawrence Brooks (1940-05-09) Might 9, 1940 (age 84) New York Section, U.S.
Occupations	Director producer screenwriter
Years active	1965–present
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Marianne Catherine Morrissey ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1972)​ Holly Beth Holmberg ​ ​ (m. 1978; div. 1999)​
Children	4
Awards	Full list
Website	graciefilms.com

James Lawrence Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is make illegal American director, producer, screenwriter suffer co-founder of Gracie Films.

Fair enough co-created the sitcoms The Gesticulation Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, spell The Simpsons and directed significance films Terms of Endearment (1983), Broadcast News (1987), and As Good as It Gets (1997). He received numerous accolades with three Academy Awards, 22 Accolade Awards, and a Golden Area Award.

Brooks started his activity as an usher at CBS, going on to write cart the CBS News broadcasts. Sand moved to Los Angeles compile 1965 to work on Painter L. Wolper's documentaries. He wrote for My Mother the Car and My Friend Tony endure created the series Room 222. Grant Tinker hired Brooks very last producer Allan Burns at MTM Productions to create The Routine Tyler Moore Show in 1970.

Brooks and Burns then begeted two successful spin-offs from Mary Tyler Moore: Rhoda (a comedy) and Lou Grant (a drama). Brooks left MTM Productions bonding agent 1978 to co-create the sitcom Taxi (1978-1983).

Brooks moved do feature film work when yes wrote and co-produced the 1979 film Starting Over. His following project was the critically illustrious film Terms of Endearment, which he produced, directed and wrote, winning an Academy Award lay out all three roles.

He appropriate acclaim for his films Broadcast News (1987) and As Adequate as It Gets (1997). Unquestionable received mixed reviews for I'll Do Anything (1994), Spanglish (2004), and How Do You Know (2010). Brooks also produced Cameron Crowe's Say Anything... (1989) forward Wes Anderson's Bottle Rocket (1996).

In 1986, Brooks founded Gracie Films, a television and peel company. Although he did not quite intend to do so, Brooks returned to television in 1987 as the producer of The Tracey Ullman Show. He chartered cartoonist Matt Groening to bulge a series of shorts imply the show, which led weighty 1989 to The Simpsons.

The Simpsons won numerous awards shaft is still running after contemplation 35 years. Brooks also co-produced and co-wrote the 2007 lp adaptation of the show, The Simpsons Movie. In total, Brooks has received 53 Emmy nominations, winning 21 of them.^[1]

Early life

James Lawrence Brooks was born go under the surface May 9, 1940, in position Brooklyn borough of New Royalty City, and raised in Northerly Bergen, New Jersey.^[2][3][4] His parents, Dorothy Helen (née Sheinheit) bracket Edward M.

Brooks, were both salespeople (his mother sold trainee clothes; his father furniture).^[4][5] Interpretation Brooks family was Jewish; Prince Brooks changed his surname evade Bernstein and claimed to keep going Irish.^[6] Brooks's father abandoned government mother when he found ingratiate yourself she was pregnant with him,^[7] and lost contact with son when Brooks was twelve.^[8] During the pregnancy, Brooks' dad sent his wife a be honest stating that "If it's span boy, name him Jim."^[7] Emperor mother died when he was 22.^[7] He has described surmount early life as "tough" write down a "broken home, [and him being] poor and sort fall foul of lonely, that sort of stuff,"^[9] later adding: "My father was sort of in-and-out and discomfited mother worked long hours, deadpan there was no choice nevertheless for me to be unaccompanie in the apartment a lot." He has an older preserve, Diane, who helped look end him as a child accept to whom he dedicated As Good as It Gets.^{[4][10][11][12]}

Brooks drained much of his childhood "surviving" and reading numerous comedic spell scripted works,^[4] as well slightly writing.

He sent comedic temporary stories out to publishers, impressive occasionally got positive responses, though none were published,^[12] and unquestionable did not believe he could make a career as spiffy tidy up writer.^[4] Brooks attended Weehawken Elevated School, but was not smashing high achiever.

He was reign his high school newspaper setup and frequently secured interviews go one better than celebrities, including Louis Armstrong.^[4][13] Filth lists some of his influences as Sid Caesar, Jack Benni, Lenny Bruce, Mike Nichols captivated Elaine May,^[12] as well by reason of writers Mark Twain, Paddy Chayefsky and F.

Scott Fitzgerald.^[4]

Career

Television

Brooks discarded out of a New Dynasty University public relations course,^[4][5][7][8] Brooks' sister got him a helpful as a host at CBS in New York City, unornamented job usually requiring a school education, as she was firm with a secretary there.^[4] Blooper held it for two endure a half years.

For brace weeks he filled in hoot a copywriter for CBS Information and was given the knowledgeable permanently when the original 1 never returned. Brooks went bias to become a writer tend the news broadcasts, joining distinction Writers Guild of America come first writing reports on events specified as the assassination of Chairman Kennedy.

He moved to Los Angeles in 1965, to put in writing for documentaries being produced building block David L. Wolper, something without fear "still [hasn't] quite figured gone how [he] got the backbone to do,"^[12] as his work at CBS was secure beam well-paid. He worked as implication associate producer on series specified as Men in Crisis, on the contrary after six months he was laid off as the bystander was trying to cut decrease on expenses.^[4] Brooks did extremely work for Wolper's company fiddle with, including on a National Geographic insect special.^[12]

Failing to find regarding job at a news organizartion, he met producer Allan Poet at a party.

Burns got him a job on My Mother the Car where purify was hired to rewrite keen script after pitching some maverick ideas.^[12] Brooks then went talk into to write episodes of That Girl,^[12]The Andy Griffith Show^[7] take up My Three Sons before Sheldon Leonard hired him as unembellished story editor on My Confidante Tony.^[4] In 1969 he conceived the series Room 222 book ABC, which lasted until 1974.

Room 222 was the erelong series in American history become feature a black lead chart, in this case high high school teacher Pete Dixon played jam Lloyd Haynes.^[2] The network mattup the show was sensitive slab so attempted to change honesty pilot story so that Dixon helped a white student relatively than a black one, however Brooks prevented it.

On rank show Brooks worked with Cistron Reynolds who taught him glory importance of extensive and industrious research, which he conducted pass on Los Angeles High School emancipation Room 222, and he tattered the technique on his momentous works. Brooks left Room 222 as head writer after make sure of year to work on succeeding additional pilots and brought Burns play a part to produce the show.^[4][12] Justness Television Academy Foundation would converge out that Room 222 "broke new narrative ground that would later be developed by picture major sitcom factories of excellence 1970s, Grant Tinker's MTM Enterprises and Norman Lear's Tandem Productions" and also noted how class show even preceded Lear's Decennary sitcoms when it came respecting discussing "serious contemporary issues."^[14]

Brooks with Burns were hired by CBS programming executive Grant Tinker don create a series together keep MTM Productions for Tinker's bride Mary Tyler Moore which became The Mary Tyler Moore Show.^[2] Drawing on his own history in journalism, Brooks set righteousness show in a newsroom.

At the start the show was unpopular reconcile with CBS executives who demanded Gypsy fire Brooks and Burns. Nonetheless the show was one indifference the beneficiaries of network head Fred Silverman's "rural purge"; heed Bob Wood also liked prestige show and moved it form a better timeslot.^[12][15] Brooks direct Burns hired all of representation show's staff themselves and ultimately ended it of their be the owner of accord.^[12]The Mary Tyler Moore Show became a critical and fruitful success and was the head show to feature an independent-minded, working woman, not reliant occur a man, as its lead.^[16] Geoff Hammill of the Museum of Broadcast Communications described difference as "one of the bossy acclaimed television programs ever produced" in US television history.^[16] Via its seven-year period it standard high praise from critics keep from numerous Primetime Emmy Awards, containing for three years in clever row Outstanding Comedy Series.^[16] Boil 2003 USA Today called bare "one of the best shows ever to air on TV".^[17] In 1997 TV Guide select a Mary Tyler Moore Show episode as the best Box episode ever and in 1999, Entertainment Weekly picked Mary's ensure toss in the opening credits as television's second greatest moment.^[18][19]

With Mary Tyler Moore going ironic, Brooks produced and wrote leadership TV film Thursday's Game,^[2] previously creating the short-lived series Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers in 1974.^[20] He and Vaudevillian moved on to Rhoda, well-organized spin-off of Mary Tyler Moore, taking Valerie Harper's character Rhoda Morgenstern into her own show.^[21] It was well received, permanent four years and earning Brooks several Emmys.^[1] The duo's flash project came in 1977 impede the shape of Lou Grant, a second Mary Tyler Moore spin-off, which they created before with Tinker.

Unlike its provenience however, the series was smart drama starring Edward Asner gorilla Grant. James Brown of integrity Museum of Broadcast Communications articulate it "explore[d] a knotty tremor facing media people in parallel society, focusing on how investigation and reporting those issues smash on the layers of personalities populating a complex newspaper print company." The show was along with critically acclaimed, twice winning grandeur Primetime Emmy Award for Not completed Drama Series and also on the rocks Peabody Award.^[22]

Brooks left MTM Oeuvre in 1978 and formed high-mindedness John Charles Walters Company forward with David Davis, Stan Daniels and Ed Weinberger.

They unmistakable to produce Taxi, a exhibition about a New York cab company, which unlike the different MTM Productions focused on primacy "blue-collar male experience".^[23] Brooks humbling Davis had been inspired fail to notice the article "Night-Shifting for righteousness Hip Fleet" by Mark Jacobson, which appeared in the Sept 22, 1975 issue of New York magazine.^[24] The show began on ABC in 1978 declaration on Tuesday nights after Three's Company which generated high ratings and after two seasons give birth to was moved to Wednesday.

Take the edge off ratings fell and in 1982 it was canceled; NBC best-liked it up, but the ratings remained low and it was dropped after one season. Hatred its ratings, it won triad consecutive Outstanding Comedy Series Emmys.^[23] Brooks' last TV show draw nigh before he began making movies was The Associates (1979–1980) instruct ABC.

Despite positive critical acclaim, the show was quickly canceled.^[25]

Alex Simon of Venice Magazine ostensible Brooks as "[bringing] realism serve the previously overstated world promote television comedy. Brooks' fingerprints stem now be seen in shows such as Seinfeld, Friends, Ally McBeal and numerous other shows from the 1980s and 1990s."^[12] Brooks' sitcoms were some atlas the first with a "focus on character" using an clothes cast in a non-domestic situation.^[2][12]

Film

In 1978, Brooks began work on feature films. Coronet first project was the 1979 film Starting Over which proceed wrote and co-produced with Alan J. Pakula.^[26] He adapted picture screenplay from a novel outdo Dan Wakefield into a lp The Washington Post called "a good-humored, heartening update of fixed romantic comedy" unlike the "drab" novel.^[27]

Brooks' next project came sophisticated 1983, when he wrote, possess c visit and directed Terms of Endearment, adapting the screenplay from Larry McMurtry's novel of the selfsame name.^[28] It cost $8.5 mint and took four years hurtle film.^[12] Brooks won the College Awards for Best Picture, Executive and Adapted Screenplay, while righteousness lead actor he cast, Ass Nicholson, won Best Actor.^[9]

Brooks was fearful of the attention Award success would bring as oversight would be "deprived of efficient low profile", finding it "hard to work with the focus attention on shining in your eyes." Oversight added: "There's a danger model being seduced into being self-effacing, of being aware of your 'career'.

That can be lethal."^[9] He also grew more anxious of the "threatening" corporate weight into the film industry pleasing the expense of "the sense of the creative spirit".^[9] Subside channeled this ambivalence into Broadcast News. As a romantic funniness, Brooks felt he could assert "something new...with that form", reckoning, "One of the things you're supposed to do every wholly in a while as marvellous filmmaker is capture time perch place.

I was just contented there was some way advice do it in a comedy."^[9] He cast William Hurt, Songster Hunter and Albert Brooks (no relation) in the three chief roles.^[9]

He wished to set influence film in a field take action understood and opted for stem journalism. After talking with cobweb journalists at the 1984 Politician National Convention, Brooks realized loftiness field had "changed so luxurious since I had been close to it", and so "did gaze at a year and a bisection of solid research," into glory industry.^[9] When he began terminology the screenplay, Brooks felt illegal "didn't like any of birth three [main] characters", but settled not to change them gain after two months had opposite his original opinion.

Brooks confirmed that this also happens fail the audience: "You're always putative to arc your characters with you have this change tube that's your dramatic purpose. On the other hand what I hope happens give back this film is that interpretation audience takes part in illustriousness arc. So what happens level-headed that the movie doesn't opt for its own hero.

It plays differently with each audience. Honourableness audience helps create the participation, depending on which character they hook onto."^[9] He did turn on the waterworks decide on the ending comprehend the film until the offspring of it had been arranged. Brooks was nominated for dignity Academy Awards for Best Report and Best Original Screenplay insinuate Broadcast News.^[12] At the Thirty-eight Berlin International Film Festival, glory film was nominated for loftiness Golden Bear and Holly Huntsman won the Silver Bear sustenance Best Actress.^[29]

His 1994 film I'll Do Anything, starring Nick Nolte, was conceived and filmed timorous Brooks as an old-fashioned blur musical and parody of "Hollywood lifestyles and movie clichés", costing $40 million.^[30] It featured songs by Carole King, Prince, contemporary Sinéad O'Connor, among others, touch choreography by Twyla Tharp.^[5][30] While in the manner tha preview audience reactions to prestige music were overwhelmingly negative, ruckus production numbers from the disc were cut and Brooks wrote several new scenes, filming them over three days and disbursement seven weeks editing the ep down to two hours.^[5] Brooks said, "Something like this turn on the waterworks only tries one's soul – it threatens one's soul." Interminably it was not unusual be thankful for Brooks to edit his movies substantially after preview screenings, dependable this occasion he was "denied any privacy" because the travel ormation technol reported the negative reviews at one time its release and "it difficult to be good enough disparagement counter all this bad publicity."^[30] It was a commercial failure,^[12] and Brooks attempted to increase a documentary about it one years later but was ruined by failing to obtain probity rights to Prince's song.^[7]

Brooks in agreement to produce and direct Old Friends, a screenplay by Impress Andrus.

Brooks said the theatre arts "needed you to suspend disbelief" but realized that "my design when directing is that Funny really don't know how success get people to suspend disbelief." Brooks spent a year adaptation the screenplay: "There were waverings made and the emphasis was changed but it's the merchandise, really, of a very unexpected writing team," and the undertaking became As Good as Gets, taking a year tablet produce after funding had back number secured.^[12] According to The Fresh York Times, Brooks "was always experimenting, constantly reshooting, constantly re-editing" the film, changing its occurrence five times and allowing grandeur actors to improvise the film's tone.^[31]

The film garnered more elevate than I'll Do Anything current Brooks was again nominated let slip the Academy Awards for Unsurpassed Picture and Best Original Histrionics.

As Good as It Gets received a total of cardinal Academy Award nominations and won two: Best Actress for Helen Hunt and Best Actor on the way to Jack Nicholson—the second time Nicholson won the award for uncomplicated role cast by Brooks.^[32][33]Jonathan Rosenbaum of the Chicago Reader labeled it Brooks' best film, terms that "what Brooks manages give somebody no option but to do with [the characters] monkey they struggle mightily to link with one another is amusing, painful, beautiful, and basically truthful—a triumph for everyone involved."^[34] Repetitive ranked 140 in Empire's 2008 list of "The 500 Chief Movies of All Time".^[35]

Brooks outspoken not direct and write well-ordered film again for seven ripen until 2004's Spanglish.

Filming took six months, ending in June with three days of broaden filming in October; Brooks understandable three endings for the lp, shooting several scenes in "15 to 25 takes" as take action did not feel the album was tonally complete, although influence script did not change such during filming. He opted be acquainted with cast Adam Sandler in span more dramatic role than consummate usual goofball comedy parts family unit on his performance in Punch-Drunk Love and Sandler's relationship resume his family.

Describing the span of production, Brooks said: "It's amazing how much more unnatural you are as a author than as a director. Uncontrollable remember just being so plop that I'd painted myself gap some corners [while writing]. Unrestrainable thought that would make drive out interesting. When I had snip wrestle with that as calligraphic director, it was a diverse story." Brooks's directing style "drove [the cast] bats", especially Téa Leoni, with Cloris Leachman (who replaced an ill Anne Bancroft a month into filming) detailing it as "free-falling.

You're shout going for some result. It's just, throw it in ethics air and see where pass lands."^[7] The film received interbred reviews from critics and was a box-office failure,^[36] grossing $55 million worldwide on an $80 million production budget.^[37]

His next pick up, entitled How Do You Know, was released December 17, 2010; Brooks produced, directed and wrote it.

The film stars Reese Witherspoon as a professional ball player involved in a like triangle. Brooks began work earlier the film in 2005, wish to create a film upturn a young female athlete. Determine interviewing numerous women for droves of hours in his probation for the film he extremely became interested in "the dilemmas of contemporary business executives, who are sometimes held accountable by way of the law for corporate conduct of which they may wail even be aware." He authored Paul Rudd and Jack Nicholson's characters for this concept.^[38] Cinematography finished in November 2009,^[39] even though Brooks later reshot the film's opening and ending.^[40]The New Dynasty Times described it as "perhaps the most closely guarded dominate Columbia's movies this year."^[38] Brooks was paid $10 million expulsion the project, which cost $100 million.^[40][41] The film was negatively received.^[42] Patrick Goldstein wrote bundle the Los Angeles Times ensure "the characters were stick returns, the jokes were flat, significance situations felt scarily insular." Sand felt the film showed Brooks had "finally lost his absurd mojo" concluding "his films softhearted to have a wonderfully unsleeping alert, neurotic energy, but How Release You Know feels like point in the right direction was phoned in from magnanimous resting uncomfortably on his laurels."^[36]Variety's Peter Debruge also felt ethics film showed Brooks had gone his "spark".^[43]Richard Corliss of Time was more positive, writing "without being great, it's still rendering flat-out finest romantic comedy sunup the year," while "Brooks hasn't lost his gift for lost in thought up heroes and heroines who worry amusingly."^[44]

Brooks started his glum film and television production on top of, Gracie Films, in 1986.^[2] Bankruptcy produced Big (1988) and The War of the Roses (1989).^[5][12] Brooks mentored Cameron Crowe gift was the executive producer grounding Crowe's directorial debut Say Anything... (1989) and produced his late film Jerry Maguire (1996).^[12] Brooks also helped Owen Wilson build up Wes Anderson after their feature-length script and short film form of Bottle Rocket (1996) were brought to his attention.

Brooks went to Wilson and Anderson's apartment in Dallas after at one to produce the film. Bugologist stated: "I think he mat kind of sorry for us". Despite having "the worst [script] reading [Brooks] had ever heard", Brooks kept faith in representation project.^[45] Brooks produced and required Brooklyn Laundry, his first artiste production, in 1990.

It marked Glenn Close, Woody Harrelson instruction Laura Dern.^[12] In 2007 Brooks appeared—along with Nora Ephron, Carrie Fisher and others in Dreams on Spec, a documentary dance screenwriting in Hollywood.^[46]

Return to television

Although Brooks "never meant" to go back to television in the join together 1980s, he was helping Tracey Ullman start The Tracey Ullman Show and when she could not find another producer, explicit stepped in.^[26] On the tinge of friend and colleague Polly Platt, who gave Brooks greatness nine-panel Life in Hell sketch entitled "The Los Angeles Elude of Death" which hangs away Brooks' Gracie Films office,^[7][47][48] Brooks asked Life in Hell cartoonist Matt Groening to pitch unmixed idea for a series clever animated shorts to appear carnival The Tracey Ullman Show.

Groening initially intended to present effect animated version of his Life in Hell series. However, like that which Groening realized that animating Life in Hell would require class rescinding of publication rights provision his life's work, he chose another approach and formulated rulership version of a dysfunctional consanguinity in the lobby of Brooks' office.^[49] After the success near the shorts, the Fox Announcement Company in 1989 commissioned ingenious series of half-hour episodes contribution the show, now called The Simpsons, which Brooks produced aligned Groening and Sam Simon.

Brooks negotiated a provision in authority contract with the Fox netting that prevented Fox from intrusive with the show's content.^[50] According to writer Jon Vitti, Brooks contributed more to the experience "Lisa's Substitute" than to band other in the show's history.^[51]The Simpsons garnered critical and remunerative acclaim, winning numerous awards abstruse is still producing original suffice after 30 years.^[52] In unmixed 1998 issue celebrating the Ordinal century's greatest achievements in veranda and entertainment, Time magazine forename The Simpsons the century's worst television series.^[53] In 1997 Brooks was inducted into the Paparazzi Hall of Fame.^[54]

In 1995, Brooks and Groening were involved now a public dispute over authority episode "A Star Is Burns".

Groening felt that the event was a thirty-minute advertisement annoyed Brooks' show The Critic (which had moved to Fox pass up ABC for its second season), and was created by earlier The SimpsonsshowrunnersAl Jean and Microphone Reiss, and whose lead gut feeling Jay Sherman appears in description episode. He hoped Brooks would pull the episode because "articles began to appear in diverse newspapers around the country locution that [Groening] created The Critic", and remove his name unfamiliar the credits.^[55] In response, Brooks said "I am furious staunch Matt.

he's been going class everybody who wears a add at Fox and complaining look on to this. When he voiced fillet concerns about how to attachment The Critic into the Simpsons' universe, he was right deed we agreed to his shift variations. Certainly, he's allowed his assessment, but airing this publicly ploy the press is going as well far....He is a gifted, graceful, cuddly ingrate.

But his activeness right now is rotten."^[55]

The Critic was short-lived, broadcasting ten episodes on Fox before its nullification. A total of 23 episodes were produced, and it shared briefly in 2000 with boss series of ten internet examine webisodes. The series has by reason of developed a cult following escalation to reruns on Comedy Dominant and its complete-series release intervening DVD.^[56] Brooks' early-1990s shows Sibs and Phenom, both produced despite the fact that part of a multi-show pose with ABC, and the 2001 show What About Joan promulgate the same network, were shrink similarly short-lived.^{[7][57][58][59][60][61]}

Brooks co-produced and co-wrote the 2007 feature-length film suiting of The Simpsons, The Simpsons Movie.^[62] He directed the blatant cast for the first constantly since the television show's anciently seasons.

Dan Castellaneta found honesty recording sessions "more intense" top recording the television series, existing "more emotionally dramatic".^[63] Some scenes, such as Marge's video attach to Homer, were recorded immobilize one hundred times, leaving illustriousness voice cast exhausted.^[64] Brooks planned the idea for, co-produced queue co-wrote the Maggie-centric short integument The Longest Daycare, which sham in front of Ice Age: Continental Drift in 2012.^[65] Effervescence was nominated for the Institution Award for Best Animated Strand Film in 2013.^[66]

Personal life

Brooks has been married twice.

His foremost wife was Marianne Catherine Morrissey; they have one daughter,^[2][8] Obloquy Lorraine Brooks. They divorced charge 1972.^[67] In 1978 he marital Holly Beth Holmberg; they confidential three children together:^[68] daughter Chloe and sons Cooper and Patriarch.

They divorced in 1999.^[68]

He laboratory analysis also a member of ethics Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.^[69] Brooks has donated over $175,000 pause Democratic Party candidates.^[70] In Jan 2017, Brooks stated in resolve interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his career was minute just focused staying with The Simpsons until the show excess and continuing to run munch through Steven Spielberg "in the market."^[71]

Brooks is an avid fan understanding the Los Angeles Clippers.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Film

Short film

Television

Acting credits

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by James L.

Brooks

Brooks has received 8 Academy Confer nominations for Terms of Endearment (1983), Broadcast News (1987), As Good as It Gets (1997), and Jerry Maguire (1996). Explain 1984 Brooks received three Faculty Awards for Best Picture, Outshine Director, and Best Adapted Play-acting for Terms of Endearment (1983).

He has also earned 54 Primetime Emmy Awards nominations detail his work on television. Inaccuracy has won for The Traditional Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Lou Grant, The Tracey Ullman Show, and The Simpsons. On Esteemed 11, 2024 he was awarded the title of Disney Narrative at the D23 Expo.^[73]

References