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James L. Brooks

James L. Brooks

Known For Production
Birthday May 09, 1940 (85)
Birthplace North Bergen, New Jersey, USA
Popularity 1 (history)
Updated Dec 08, 2025
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

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

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Filmography

Lost in America

Lost in America

1985

as Party Guest (uncredited)

Modern Romance

Modern Romance

1981

as David

Real Life

Real Life

1979

as Driving Evaluator

The Simpsons: The Past and the Furious

The Simpsons: The Past and the Furious

2025

Executive Consultant

Ella McCay

Ella McCay

2025

Writer

Planet of the Couches

Planet of the Couches

2016

Writer

Ride

Ride

2014

Thanks

50/50

50/50

2011

Thanks

How Do You Know

How Do You Know

2010

Writer

The Simpsons Movie

The Simpsons Movie

2007

Screenplay

Spanglish

Spanglish

2004

Writer

As Good as It Gets

As Good as It Gets

1997

Screenplay

I'll Do Anything

I'll Do Anything

1994

Writer

My Own Private Idaho

My Own Private Idaho

1991

Thanks

Broadcast News

Broadcast News

1987

Screenplay

Jumpin' Jack Flash

Jumpin' Jack Flash

1986

Thanks

Terms of Endearment

Terms of Endearment

1983

Screenplay

Carlton Your Doorman

Carlton Your Doorman

1980

Characters

Starting Over

Starting Over

1979

Writer

Cindy

Cindy

1978

Writer

Thursday's Game

Thursday's Game

1974

Writer

Ella McCay

Ella McCay

2025

Director

How Do You Know

How Do You Know

2010

Director

Spanglish

Spanglish

2004

Director

As Good as It Gets

As Good as It Gets

1997

Director

I'll Do Anything

I'll Do Anything

1994

Director

Broadcast News

Broadcast News

1987

Director

Terms of Endearment

Terms of Endearment

1983

Director

The Simpsons: The Past and the Furious

The Simpsons: The Past and the Furious

2025

Executive Producer

Ella McCay

Ella McCay

2025

Producer

The Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful

The Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful

2024

Executive Producer

May the 12th Be with You

May the 12th Be with You

2024

Producer

When Billie Met Lisa

When Billie Met Lisa

2022

Producer

Welcome to the Club

Welcome to the Club

2022

Producer

The Edge of Seventeen

The Edge of Seventeen

2016

Producer

How Do You Know

How Do You Know

2010

Producer

The Simpsons Movie

The Simpsons Movie

2007

Producer

Spanglish

Spanglish

2004

Producer

Riding in Cars with Boys

Riding in Cars with Boys

2001

Producer

As Good as It Gets

As Good as It Gets

1997

Producer

Jerry Maguire

Jerry Maguire

1996

Producer

Bottle Rocket

Bottle Rocket

1996

Executive Producer

I'll Do Anything

I'll Do Anything

1994

Producer

The Best of the Tracey Ullman Show

The Best of the Tracey Ullman Show

1990

Executive Producer

Say Anything...

Say Anything...

1989

Executive Producer

The War of the Roses

The War of the Roses

1989

Producer

Big

Big

1988

Producer

Broadcast News

Broadcast News

1987

Producer

Terms of Endearment

Terms of Endearment

1983

Producer

Starting Over

Starting Over

1979

Producer

Cindy

Cindy

1978

Producer

Thursday's Game

Thursday's Game

1974

Producer

Organization Category Movie
Academy Awards Best Director Broadcast News Nominated
Academy Awards Best Director As Good as It Gets Nominated
BAFTA Awards Best Director Broadcast News Nominated
Television Credits

The Simpsons

as James L. Brooks (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 17, 1989

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

as Rabbi (uncredited)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1970

The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Mar 26, 2018

Prisoners of Gravity

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 21, 1989

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 9 17 5
2024 7 12 18 5
2024 8 10 19 4
2024 9 7 18 2
2024 10 7 12 4
2024 11 7 13 2
2024 12 9 14 5
2025 1 7 11 2
2025 2 5 9 1
2025 3 5 11 1
2025 4 1 1 1
2025 5 1 2 1
2025 6 1 2 1
2025 7 0 1 0
2025 8 0 0 0
2025 9 0 0 0
2025 10 0 1 0
2025 11 0 1 0
2025 12 1 1 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2024 6 679 640
2025 12 623 220

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