James L. Brooks
James L. Brooks was born on May 9, 1940. See ranking, bio blurb, and everyone else born that day.
About James L. Brooks
James Lawrence Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is an American filmmaker. He is the founder of Gracie Films and co-created the sitcoms The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi, as well as co-developed The Simpsons. He also directed the films Terms of Endearment (1983), Broadcast News (1987), and As Good as It Gets (1997). In a career spanning six decades, Brooks received numerous accolades including three Academy Awards, 22 Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. Brooks started his career as an usher at CBS, going on to write for the CBS News broadcasts. He then moved to Los Angeles in 1965 to work on David L. Wolper's documentaries. He wrote for My Mother the Car and My Friend Tony and created the series Room 222. Grant Tinker hired Brooks and producer Allan Burns at MTM Productions to create The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1970. Brooks and Burns then created two successful spin-offs from Mary Tyler Moore: Rhoda (a comedy) and Lou Grant (a drama). Brooks left MTM Productions in 1978 to co-create the sitcom Taxi (1978–1983). Brooks moved into feature film work when he wrote and co-produced Starting Over (1979). His next film was the acclaimed Terms of Endearment, which he produced, directed, and wrote, winning Academy Awards (for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay) for all three roles. He subsequently earned acclaim for his films Broadcast News and As Good as It Gets. He received mixed reviews for I'll Do Anything (1994), Spanglish (2004), and How Do You Know (2010), and negative reviews for Ella McCay (2025). Brooks also produced the directorial debuts of Cameron Crowe—Say Anything... (1989)—and Wes Anderson, Bottle Rocket (1996). In 1986, Brooks founded Gracie Films, a film and television production company. Although he did not intend to do so, Brooks returned to television in 1987 as the producer of The Tracey Ullman Show. He hired cartoonist Matt Groening to create a series of shorts for the television show, which led in 1989 to The Simpsons. It won numerous awards and is still running after over 35 years, becoming the longest-serving American primetime television series and the longest-serving American animated series and sitcom. Brooks also co-produced and co-wrote The Simpsons Movie (2007). Brooks has received 62 Emmy nominations, winning 22 of them.