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James L. Brooks Biography

Birth Place:
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Profession
Writer, producer, director

Fast Facts

  • Began his career as a writer for CBS News
  • Broke into television as a freelance writer on shows such as My Mother the Car and The Andy Griffith Show
  • Was hired by MTM (a production company founded by Mary Tyler Moore and her then-husband Grant Tinker) to help create the classic sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show
  • Founded his own production company, Gracie Films, in 1984
  • Recruited syndicated newspaper cartoonist Matt Groening to do short animations for the Tracy Ullman Show and then to create the enduring hit series The Simpsons

Awards

  • 2008Producers Guild Awards-Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Pictures: nominated
  • 2006Emmy-Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour): winner
  • 1998Writers Guild Awards-Original Screenplay: winner
  • 1998Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1997Oscar-Best Writing (Original Screenplay): nominated
  • 1997Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
  • 1997Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
  • 1996Emmy-Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or less): nominated
  • 1996Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
  • 1995Emmy-Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or less): winner
  • 1992Emmy-Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or less): nominated
  • 1991Emmy-Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or less): winner
  • 1990Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1990Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: winner
  • 1989Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1989Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: winner
  • 1988Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1988Writers Guild Awards-Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 1988Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 1988Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1988Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1987New York Film Critics Circle-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 1987Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
  • 1987Oscar-Best Writing (Original Screenplay): nominated
  • 1987Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
  • 1987Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1987Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 1987New York Film Critics Circle-Best Director: winner
  • 1984Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1984Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: winner
  • 1984Writers Guild Awards-Adapted Comedy: winner
  • 1983Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Director: winner
  • 1983Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 1983National Board of Review-Best Director: winner
  • 1983Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: winner
  • 1983Oscar-Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): winner
  • 1983Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: winner
  • 1983Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: winner
  • 1983Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1982Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1981Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
  • 1980Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
  • 1980Writers Guild Awards-Adapted Comedy: nominated
  • 1979Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
  • 1978Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 1977Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
  • 1976Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
  • 1975Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
  • 1974Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1973Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1972Emmy-Outstanding Series - Comedy: nominated
  • 1971Emmy-Outstanding Series - Comedy: nominated
  • 1971Emmy-Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy: winner
  • 1971Emmy-Outstanding New Series: nominated

Relationships