James L. Brooks
Production Born May 9, 1940 North Bergen, New Jersey, USA 123 credits
Biography
James L. Brooks is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and co-founder of Gracie Films. He co-created the sitcoms The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi. Brooks also directed the films Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, and As Good as It Gets. He received numerous accolades, including three Academy Awards, 22 Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. Brooks started his career as an usher at CBS, later writing for CBS News broadcasts and moving to Los Angeles to work on documentaries. He wrote for the series My Mother the Car and My Friend Tony, and created the series Room 222.
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Frequent co-stars
Hayato Dojima
4 shared titles
Kikunosuke Toya
2 shared titles
Yoko Hikasa
2 shared titles
Jiang Guannan
2 shared titles
Albert Brooks
2 shared titles
Clifford Einstein
2 shared titles
Yoshinori Nakayama
1 shared title
Honoka Inoue
1 shared title
Koki Uchiyama
1 shared title
Hiiro Ishibashi
1 shared title
Career timeline
The Simpsons Movie 2 · Producer
Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition · Executive Producer
Ella McCay · DirectorElla McCay · ProducerElla McCay · WriterThank You Very MuchPaddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words
May the 12th Be with You · ProducerThe Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful · ProducerThe Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful · Executive ProducerThe Most Wonderful Time of the Year · ProducerDisney Legends Awards Ceremony
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. · ProducerMaggie Simpson in "Rogue Not Quite One" · ProducerBeing Mary Tyler MooreAlbert Brooks: Defending My Life
Welcome to the Club · ProducerWhen Billie Met Lisa · ProducerHans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel
The Good, the Bart, and the Loki · ProducerThe Simpsons in Plusaversary · ProducerThe Simpsons: A Serious Flanders · WriterThe Simpsons: A Serious Flanders · Executive ProducerThe Simpsons | Balenciaga · Producer
Maggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny" · WriterMaggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny" · Producer
Alan Pakula: Going for Truth
The Zen Diaries of Garry ShandlingIcebox · Producer
The Edge of Seventeen · ProducerMike Nichols: An American MasterHarry Benson: Shoot First
Misery Loves Comedy
Ride · Thanks
Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare" · WriterMaggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare" · Producer
50/50 · ThanksHans Zimmer: The Sound of HollywoodJames L. Brooks: A Singular Voice
How Do You Know · DirectorHow Do You Know · WriterHow Do You Know · ProducerThe Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special - In 3D! On Ice!
The Making of 'Bottle Rocket'
The Simpsons Movie · ProducerThe Simpsons Movie · ScreenplayA Terrifying Message from Al Gore · ThanksDreams on Spec
Spanglish · DirectorSpanglish · ProducerSpanglish · WriterJack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild
The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror · Writer
Riding in Cars with Boys · ProducerWhat About Joan? · Producer
The Simpsons: America's First Family
The Simpsons: Too Hot For TV · Scenario Writer
The Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their Craft
As Good as It Gets · DirectorAs Good as It Gets · ScreenplayAs Good as It Gets · Producer
Jerry Maguire · ProducerBottle Rocket · Executive Producer
The Critic · ProducerI'll Do Anything · DirectorI'll Do Anything · WriterI'll Do Anything · Producer
Phenom · Producer
My Own Private Idaho · ThanksSibs · Producer
The Best of the Tracey Ullman Show · Executive Producer
Full Filmography
123 titles- The Simpsons Movie 2 (2027) Producer
- Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition (2026) Executive Producer
- Ella McCay (2025) Director
- Ella McCay (2025) Producer
- Ella McCay (2025) Writer
- Thank You Very Much (2025) as Self
- Paddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words (2025) as Self
- May the 12th Be with You (2024) Producer
- The Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful (2024) Producer
- The Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful (2024) Executive Producer
- The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2024) Producer
- Disney Legends Awards Ceremony (2024) as Self
- Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023) Producer
- Maggie Simpson in "Rogue Not Quite One" (2023) Producer
- Being Mary Tyler Moore (2023) as Self (voice)
- Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023) as Self
- Welcome to the Club (2022) Producer
- When Billie Met Lisa (2022) Producer
- Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel (2022) as Self
- The Good, the Bart, and the Loki (2021) Producer
- The Simpsons in Plusaversary (2021) Producer
- The Simpsons: A Serious Flanders (2021) Writer
- The Simpsons: A Serious Flanders (2021) Executive Producer
- The Simpsons | Balenciaga (2021) Producer
- Maggie Simpson in "The Force Awakens from Its Nap" (2021) Producer
- Maggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny" (2020) Writer
- Maggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny" (2020) Producer
- Alan Pakula: Going for Truth (2019) as Self
- The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling (2018) as Self
- Icebox (2018) Producer
- The Edge of Seventeen (2016) Producer
- Mike Nichols: An American Master (2016) as Self
- Harry Benson: Shoot First (2016) as Self
- Misery Loves Comedy (2015) as Self
- Ride (2014) Thanks
- Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare" (2012) Writer
- Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare" (2012) Producer
- 50/50 (2011) Thanks
- Hans Zimmer: The Sound of Hollywood (2011) as Self
- James L. Brooks: A Singular Voice (2011) as Self (archive footage)
- How Do You Know (2010) Director
- How Do You Know (2010) Writer
- How Do You Know (2010) Producer
- The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special - In 3D! On Ice! (2010) as Self
- The Making of 'Bottle Rocket' (2008) as Self
- The Simpsons Movie (2007) Producer
- The Simpsons Movie (2007) Screenplay
- A Terrifying Message from Al Gore (2007) Thanks
- Dreams on Spec (2007) as Self
- Spanglish (2004) Director
- Spanglish (2004) Producer
- Spanglish (2004) Writer
- Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild (2004) as Self
- The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror (2003) Writer
- Riding in Cars with Boys (2001) Producer
- What About Joan? (2001) Producer
- The Simpsons: America's First Family (2000) as Self
- The Simpsons: Too Hot For TV (1999) Scenario Writer
- The Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their Craft (1998) as himself
- As Good as It Gets (1997) Director
- As Good as It Gets (1997) Screenplay
- As Good as It Gets (1997) Producer
- Jerry Maguire (1996) Producer
- Bottle Rocket (1996) Executive Producer
- The Critic (1994) Producer
- I'll Do Anything (1994) Director
- I'll Do Anything (1994) Writer
- I'll Do Anything (1994) Producer
- Phenom (1993) Producer
- My Own Private Idaho (1991) Thanks
- Sibs (1991) Producer
- The Best of the Tracey Ullman Show (1990) Executive Producer
- The Simpsons (1989) as James L. Brooks (voice)
- The Simpsons (1989) Executive Producer
- The Simpsons (1989) Writer
- Prisoners of Gravity (1989) as Self
- The War of the Roses (1989) Producer
- Say Anything... (1989) Executive Producer
- Big (1988) Producer
- The Tracey Ullman Show (1987) Writer
- The Tracey Ullman Show (1987) Executive Producer
- The Tracey Ullman Show (1987) Creator
- Broadcast News (1987) Producer
- Broadcast News (1987) Director
- Broadcast News (1987) Writer
- Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) Thanks
- Lost in America (1985) as Party Guest (uncredited)
- Terms of Endearment (1983) Screenplay
- Terms of Endearment (1983) Producer
- Terms of Endearment (1983) Director
- Modern Romance (1981) as David
- Carlton Your Doorman (1980) Characters
- Starting Over (1979) Producer
- Starting Over (1979) Screenplay
- The Associates (1979) Producer
- The Associates (1979) Creator
- Real Life (1979) as Driving Evaluator
- Taxi (1978) Writer
- Taxi (1978) Executive Producer
- Taxi (1978) Creator
- Cindy (1978) Writer
- Cindy (1978) Producer
- Lou Grant (1977) Executive Producer
- Lou Grant (1977) Creator
- Audience Research (1976) as Paul Reynold
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Paul Reynolds (uncredited)
- Rhoda (1974) Writer
- Rhoda (1974) Producer
- Rhoda (1974) Creator
- Thursday's Game (1974) Writer
- Thursday's Game (1974) Producer
- Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers (1974) Creator
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) as Rabbi (uncredited)
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) Writer
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) Executive Producer
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) Creator
- Room 222 (1969) Creator
- The Doris Day Show (1968) Writer
- Accidental Family (1967) Writer
- That Girl (1966) Writer
- My Mother the Car (1965) Writer
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) Writer
- The Process
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is James L. Brooks best known for?
James L. Brooks is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The New Simpsons Movie (2027), Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition (2026), Ella McCay (2025), Ella McCay (2025).
When and where was James L. Brooks born?
James L. Brooks was born on May 9, 1940 in North Bergen, New Jersey, USA.
How many credits does James L. Brooks have?
James L. Brooks has accumulated over 123 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1960 to 2027.
What is James L. Brooks's background in cinema and television?
James L. Brooks is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and co-founder of Gracie Films. He co-created the sitcoms The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi. Brooks also directed the films Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, and As Good as It Gets. He received numerous accolades, including three Academy Awards, 22 Em...
James L. Brooks by the numbers
123credits
89films
34TV series
1960–2027active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Simpsons (1989) as James L. Brooks (voice) — aged about 49
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) as Rabbi (uncredited) — aged about 30
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Paul Reynolds (uncredited) — aged about 35
- Modern Romance (1981) as David — aged about 41
- Real Life (1979) as Driving Evaluator — aged about 39
- Prisoners of Gravity (1989) as Self — aged about 49
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