Mel Brooks

At 14, learned to play drums from jazz legend Buddy Rich. After serving in World War II, began working at Borscht Belt resorts in the Catskills, serving as a stand-up comedian, jazz drummer, handyman and social director. Auditioned as a writer for Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows by performing a self-penned song titled "Here I Am, I'm Melvin Brooks." His legendary 2000 Year Old Man was created when he quipped to Carl Reiner following painful gout surgery that he felt "like a 2000-year-old man."… Show more Formed Brooksfilms in 1979 to produce The Elephant Man ; other movies produced include  The Fly  and My Favorite Year, which is based on a personal experience with Errol Flynn. His 2000 Broadway production of  The Producers received 15 Tony Award nominations and won a record 12. Is one of only a few artists to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. ~ Rovi

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