James L. Brooks

James L. Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is a Hollywood producer, writer, and film director.

Biography

James L. Brooks was raised in a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York. Brooks began his television career as a writer for CBS News from 1964 to 1966. After working for the ABC television series Room 222 as executive story editor, Brooks was hired along with writing partner Allan Burns by television executive Grant Tinker to create a show that would later become The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Related Topics:
Jewish - Brooklyn, New York - CBS - ABC - Television series - Room 222 - Allan Burns - Grant Tinker

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Mary Tyler Moore Show became a critical and commerical success and spawned other television shows created by Brooks and Burns such as Rhoda, Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, Taxi, The Associates, and Lou Grant.

Related Topics:
Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers - The Associates - Lou Grant

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1978 Brooks began work on feature motion films. His first project was being writer and co-producer on the film Starting Over and later wrote, produced, and directed Terms of Endearment in 1983.

Related Topics:
Starting Over - Terms of Endearment

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Brooks later started his own film and television production company, Gracie Films, in 1984. Gracie Films would produce the television series The Tracey Ullman Show, The Simpsons, and The Critic. Gracie Films' notable film productions were Jerry Maguire, As Good As It Gets, Bottle Rocket, and Broadcast News.

Related Topics:
Gracie Films - The Tracey Ullman Show - The Simpsons - The Critic - Jerry Maguire - As Good As It Gets - Bottle Rocket - Broadcast News

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Brooks had a cameo in one Simpsons episode (Season 14 Episode 13, A Star is Born-Again).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~