Eighty-six years ago today in Brooklyn, New York Melvin Kaminsky was born. Known today as the comic genius Mel Brooks he is one of America's treasures. His career started in the Catskills "Borscht Belt" where he was a part-time comic and tummler at Grossingers. For those of you who don't know what a tummler is; a tummler is a master entertainer who made sure all the guests were having a good time and knew of the entertainments offered at the resorts. His old friend Sid Caesar hired him on as a writer for the ground breaking 1950's televison show "Your Show of Shows". There he wrote with fellow comic greats Neil Simon and Carl Reiner. Mel and Carl Reiner teamed up after the show and created the 2000 Year Old Man. Carl Reiner went on to create the Dick Van Dyke show and the character of Buddy Sorrel played by Morey Amsterdam was based on Mel Brooks. In the mid 60's Mel teamed up with another comic of reknown Buck Henry and created the television classic "Get Smart" starring Don Adams.
Brooks went on to become known as a director of comic masterpieces starting with "The Producers" and including such revered comedies "Blazing Saddles", "Young Frankenstein", "Silent Movie" and "High Anxiety" among others.
He was married for 41 years to the actress Anne Bancroft until her death in 2004. He is still working to this day. A broadway production of "The Producers" won a record 12 Tony awards. Mel Brooks is one of a handful of performers to have received an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony and a Grammy award.
Happy Birthday to Mel Brooks!
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