James L. Brooks
Production
James Lawrence Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is an American director, producer, screenwriter and co-founder of Gracie Films. He co-created the sitcoms The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, and The Simpsons and directed the films Terms of Endearment (1983), Broadcast News (1987), and As Good as It Gets (1997). 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, going on to write for the CBS News broadcasts. He 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 the 1979 film Starting Over. His next project was the critically acclaimed film Terms of Endearment, which he produced, directed and wrote, winning an Academy Award for all three roles. He earned acclaim for his films Broadcast News (1987) and As Good as It Gets (1997). He 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) and Wes Anderson's Bottle Rocket (1996). In 1986, Brooks founded Gracie Films, a television and film 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 show, which led in 1989 to The Simpsons. The Simpsons won numerous awards and is still running after over 35 years. Brooks also co-produced and co-wrote the 2007 film adaptation of the show, The Simpsons Movie. Brooks has received 53 Emmy nominations, winning 21 of them. Description above from the Wikipedia article James L. Brooks, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known for
Production47
movieThe Simpsons Movie 2
2027
Producer
movieExtreme Makeover: Homer Edition
2026
Executive Producer
movieElla McCay
2025
Producer
movieThe Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful
2024
Producer, Executive Producer
movieWelcome to the Club
2022
Producer
movieWhen Billie Met Lisa
2022
Producer
movieThe Simpsons: A Serious Flanders
2021
Executive Producer
movieIcebox
2018
Producer
movieThe Edge of Seventeen
2016
Producer
movieHow Do You Know
2010
Producer
movieThe Simpsons Movie
2007
Producer
movieSpanglish
2004
Producer
tvWhat About Joan?
2001
Producer
movieAs Good as It Gets
1997
Producer
movieJerry Maguire
1996
Producer
movieBottle Rocket
1996
Executive Producer
movieI'll Do Anything
1994
Producer
tvThe Critic
1994
Producer
tvPhenom
1993
Producer
tvSibs
1991
Producer
tvThe Simpsons
1989
Executive Producer
movieThe War of the Roses
1989
Producer
movieSay Anything...
1989
Executive Producer
movieBig
1988
Producer
movieBroadcast News
1987
Producer
tvThe Tracey Ullman Show
1987
Executive Producer
movieTerms of Endearment
1983
Producer
movieStarting Over
1979
Producer
tvThe Associates
1979
Producer
tvTaxi
1978
Executive Producer
movieCindy
1978
Producer
tvLou Grant
1977
Executive Producer
tvRhoda
1974
Producer
movieThursday's Game
1974
Producer
tvThe Mary Tyler Moore Show
1970
Executive Producer
Acting28
movieBeing Mary Tyler Moore
2023
Self (voice)
movieJames L. Brooks: A Singular Voice
2011
Self (archive footage)
tvThe Simpsons
1989
James L. Brooks (voice)
movieLost in America
1985
Party Guest (uncredited)
movieReal Life
1979
Driving Evaluator
movieAudience Research
1976
Paul Reynold
tvSaturday Night Live
1975
Paul Reynolds (uncredited)
tvThe Mary Tyler Moore Show
1970
Rabbi (uncredited)
Writing27
movieElla McCay
2025
Writer
movieHow Do You Know
2010
Writer
movieThe Simpsons Movie
2007
Screenplay
movieSpanglish
2004
Writer
movieThe Simpsons: Too Hot For TV
1999
Scenario Writer
movieAs Good as It Gets
1997
Screenplay
tvThe Simpsons
1989
Writer
movieBroadcast News
1987
Writer
movieTerms of Endearment
1983
Screenplay
movieCarlton Your Doorman
1980
Characters
movieStarting Over
1979
Screenplay
tvTaxi
1978
Writer
movieCindy
1978
Writer
tvRhoda
1974
Writer
movieThursday's Game
1974
Writer
tvThe Doris Day Show
1968
Writer
tvAccidental Family
1967
Writer
tvThat Girl
1966
Writer
tvMy Mother the Car
1965
Writer
Creator8
tvThe Tracey Ullman Show
1987
Creator
tvThe Associates
1979
Creator
tvTaxi
1978
Creator
tvLou Grant
1977
Creator
tvRhoda
1974
Creator
tvRoom 222
1969
Creator
Directing7
movieElla McCay
2025
Director
movieHow Do You Know
2010
Director
movieSpanglish
2004
Director
movieAs Good as It Gets
1997
Director
movieI'll Do Anything
1994
Director
movieBroadcast News
1987
Director
movieTerms of Endearment
1983
Director
