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Mel's Father
Mel's father, Max Kaminsky, was born Maximillian Kaminsky on September 28, 1894, in Danzig, German Empire (now Gdańsk, Poland). Max immigrated to the United States from Eastern Europe in the early 1900s, Max passed away in 1959. -
Mel's Mother
Mel's mother, Kate Brookman, was born on August 17, 1896, in Russia (specific location uncertain). She married Max Kaminsky and became Kate Kaminsky. She passed away in 1990. -
Birth
Mel Brooks was born on June 28, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York, to Max and Kate Kaminsky. -
Source of Inspiration
Brooks went to a Broadway show with his uncle Joe—a taxi driver who drove the Broadway doormen back to Brooklyn for free and was given the tickets in gratitude—and saw Anything Goes with William Gaxton, Ethel Merman and Victor Moore at the Alvin Theater. -
Making Connections
When Brooks was 14 he gained employment as a pool-side entertainer at the Butler Lodge, a second-rate Borscht Belt hotel, where he met 18-year-old Sid Caesar. -
Time in Army
Mel Brooks serves in the United States Army during World War II. (1944-1946) -
High school education
Mel Brook's graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1944 -
Early Career
Brooks began his career as a comic and a writer for Sid Caesar's show and Your Show of Shows from 1950 to 1954. -
Stand Up Comedy
Brooks begins performing stand-up comedy at clubs and resorts in the Catskill Mountains, honing his comedic skills and developing his unique style. Through out the 1950s -
Broadway debut
Brooks makes his Broadway debut as a playwright with the comedy revue "New Faces of 1962," which features sketches and musical numbers written by him. -
The 2000 Year Old Man
Brooks wins a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Performance for his album "The 2000 Year Old Man," recorded with comedian Carl Reiner. -
Directorial Debut
Mel Brooks makes his directorial debut with the film "The Producers," which he also wrote. The film receives critical acclaim and earns Brooks an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay -
Major Success
"The Producers" premieres on Broadway as a musical, adapted from Mel Brooks's 1967 film of the same name. It receives critical acclaim and breaks records by winning 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. -
EGOT status
Mel Brooks becomes one of the few individuals to achieve EGOT status (winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award) due to the success of "The Producers" on Broadway. -
Young Frakenstein
"Young Frankenstein" is adapted into a Broadway musical, with Mel Brooks serving as the book writer and composer. The production receives positive reviews. -
Kennedy Center Honors
Mel Brooks was honored for his contributions to American culture. -
Hollywood
Mel Brooks receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame -
AFI Life Achievement Award
Brooks received this prestigious award from the American Film Institute in recognition of his exceptional career in film and television. -
BAFTA Fellowship
Mel Brooks was awarded the British Academy Fellowship by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) for his outstanding contribution to film and television. -
Refusal to Retire
Mel Brooks is now 97 years old but he still refuses to retire. Although he has slowed down in his work and currently has no on going projects he is still active marking his 70+ year long career -
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Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Brooks
https://playbill.com/production/new-faces-of-1962-alvin-theatre-vault-0000000897
https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/b/bo-bz/mel-brooks/#:~:text=As%20soon%20as%20he%20graduated,forward%20observer%20in%20the%20artillery.
https://www.distractify.com/p/mel-brooks-health-update#:~:text=Mel%20also%20said%20that%20he,Never%20ever%20retire.
https://walkoffame.com/mel-brooks/
https://www.afi.com/laa/mel-brooks/