James L. Brooks
- Known For
- Production
- Born
- May 9, 1940 in North Bergen, New Jersey, USA
- Active Years
- 1960–2027 (68 Years)
- Total Credits
- 123 credits in database
Biography
James Lawrence Brooks was born on May 9, 1940. He is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and co-founder of Gracie Films. He began his television career as an usher at CBS and wrote for CBS News broadcasts, later moving to Los Angeles in 1965 to work on David L. Wolper's documentaries. His writing credits include My Mother the Car and My Friend Tony, and he created the series Room 222. Grant Tinker hired Brooks and producer Allan Burns at MTM Productions to create The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Brooks also co-created the sitcoms Taxi and The Simpsons. As a film director, his credits include Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, and As Good as It Gets.
Career overview
James Lawrence Brooks is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and co-founder of Gracie Films. Born on May 9, 1940, his career began as an usher at CBS before writing for CBS News broadcasts from 1964 to 1966. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles in 1965 to work on David L. Wolper's documentaries. Early in his television writing career, he wrote for My Mother the Car and My Friend Tony, and he created the series Room 222. Grant Tinker later hired Brooks and producer Allan Burns at MTM Productions.
Alongside his co-creators, Brooks co-created notable sitcoms including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, and The Simpsons. Transitioning to film, he directed the movies Terms of Endearment in 1983, Broadcast News in 1987, and As Good as It Gets in 1997. As Good as It Gets received a total of seven Academy Award nominations and won two, securing Best Actress for Helen Hunt and Best Actor for Jack Nicholson.
Throughout his career, Brooks has received numerous accolades, including Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Peabody Award. His extensive credits span across television and film production, writing, and directing.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
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 Lawrence Brooks was born on May 9, 1940. He is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and co-founder of Gracie Films. He began his television career as an usher at CBS and wrote for CBS News broadcasts, later moving to Los Angeles in 1965 to work on David L. Wolper's documentaries. His writing credits incl...
James L. Brooks by the numbers
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
- Harry Benson: Shoot First (2016) as Self — aged about 76
- Real Life (1979) as Driving Evaluator — aged about 39
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