The 2000 Year Old Man Turns 100

Happy 100th Birthday to legendary comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks. For months, fans such as myself have eagerly awaited this major milestone. I personally made it a point in the months leading up to this day to not say the age out loud until it was made official as a means not to “jinx” this special day. But now I can loudly say that Mel Brooks is officially 100 years old. Born Melvin Kaminsky in Brooklyn in 1926, Brooks has led the kind of life that seems you could only see in the movies. Brooks served in World War II, became a famous comedian, actor, and director, making some of the best and funniest films ever, is an EGOT recipient, and found the love of his life in actress and fellow Hollywood legend Anne Bancroft. In celebration, today’s blog will take a look back on his amazing career and celebrate some of his best work.

The 2000 Year Old Man

While working as a writer for Sid Caesar’s groundbreaking sketch comedy show Your Show of Shows, Mel Brooks met Carl Reiner, another legend in comedy and filmmaking. Brooks and Reiner played off each other very well and were close friends for the rest of their lives, with Brooks even being present at Reiner’s passing in 2020 at the age of 98. Through their friendship of making each other laugh and writing together, Brooks and Reiner came up with what is still considered today to be one of the greatest comedy routines of all time- The 2000 Year Old Man. The routine follows an interviewer (Reiner) questioning a man (Brooks) believed to be two thousand years old. The interview would go on to cover a variety of topics that supposedly occurred during the man’s life, including historical events such as the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and personal milestones such as the man’s many marriages. The iconic duo originally recorded various versions of the sketch on Reiner’s tape recorder as an inside joke, to play for their friends and colleagues. Many of their peers, including George Burns and Steve Allen, convinced them to put the recordings on an album, which became a massive hit in 1960. Subsequent albums and even an animated series were released shortly after due to the routine’s popularity, launching the careers of both Brooks and Reiner. 

Get Smart

After a brief period of struggling to find work as a writer, Brooks was selected, along with future The Graduate screenwriter Buck Henry, to write a television series that could capitalize on the spy genre, which was popular at the time due to the success of both James Bond and the Pink Panther film series starring Peter Sellers. Brooks and Henry created Get Smart, a comedy about a dimwitted secret agent named Maxwell Smart, played by Don Adams. The show was known for its slapstick, pun, and catchphrase humor as well as the iconic “shoe phone” used by the main character. It ran five seasons in total from 1965 to 1970, four on NBC and one on CBS, and later had iterations, including a theatrical movie, The Nude Bomb, in 1980, and a brief revival in the 1990s. The show was also adapted into a theatrical 2008 film starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway. Get Smart remains influential, seen in many ways as a precursor to later detective parody comedies such as the Naked Gun and Austin Powers franchises.

The Producers (1967)

Brooks made his directorial debut in 1967 with The Producers, starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder as Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, two Broadway producers who seek to produce the worst musical of all time as a fraudulent scheme. The musical chosen by the duo is “Springtime for Hitler,” written by a former member of the Nazi party turned playwright. Their scheme goes awry when the show actually turns out to be a hit. This directorial debut is the perfect introduction to the comedy style that would make Mel Brooks the legend he is, featuring farce, slapstick, wit, parody, satire, musical numbers, and of course, Hitler. The film earned Brooks the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. A comedy winning the Oscar in a major category, such as Original Screenplay, is a massive achievement, especially for a director’s debut. Although the film initially caused some controversy for its humor about Hitler and World War II, Brooks proved in this film that the best way to take power away from evil dictators is to mock them. Brooks made The Producers into a Broadway musical in 2001, starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick as Bialystock and Bloom, respectively. The show was a massive success on Broadway and led to a musical film adaptation produced by Brooks in 2005 with Lane and Broderick reprising their roles.

Blazing Saddles

After the success of The Producers and his second directorial effort, The Twelve Chairs, Brooks directed what many consider to be his best film and one of the funniest comedies ever made, Blazing Saddles. A western parody released in 1974, Blazing Saddles was written by a team that included Brooks and Richard Pryor, one of the greatest stand-up comedians of all time. Featuring performances from Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, and Brooks himself, the film is known for its sharp satire and its earned moments of low-brow humor, such as the campfire scene. Some of the most iconic comedy moments on screen come from Blazing Saddles, especially in its fourth-wall-destroying third act. The film was a massive success despite mixed reviews from critics. Today, it is impossible to find a list of the funniest movies ever made that does not feature Blazing Saddles. And if such a list exists… that list is wrong.

Young Frankenstein

Next is my personal favorite Mel Brooks-directed film, Young Frankenstein. Released in 1974, Young Frankenstein stars Gene Wilder as Victor Frankenstein’s grandson, Frederick Frankenstein. The film is notable for being shot entirely in black and white, spectacularly recreating the feel of classic monster movies. This film also stands out for the fact that Mel Brooks does not appear as an actor, a decision made by Gene Wilder, who feared Brooks’s signature fourth-wall-breaking would ruin the atmosphere the film was going for. Ironically, Wilder and Brooks also disagreed on one of the movie’s most iconic moments. The scene in which Frederick and his monster, dressed in tuxedos, perform a musical number of “Puttin on the Ritz,” was rejected by Brooks, as he felt it was not fitting for the film. Gene Wilder fought to keep the scene, and it remains a highlight of the film. Young Frankenstein also stars Marty Feldman as Igor, Peter Boyle as the monster, along with Cloris Leachman, Terri Garr, and Madeline Kahn once again collaborating with Brooks.

History of the World Part I

Mel Brooks continued his string of comedy hits with 1981’s History of the World Part I, an anthology film featuring humorous looks at some of history’s most important events, from the Stone Age to Ancient Rome to the French Revolution. It is one of Brooks’s most quotable films, with iconic moments such as King Louie’s (played by Brooks) “It’s good to be king!” History of the World Part I also features another iconic Brooks musical number with “The Inquisition.” The film is narrated by Orson Welles and stars a large ensemble cast, which includes Gregory Hines, Madeline Kahn, Dom DeLuise, and Cloris Leachman, most of whom regularly collaborated with Brooks. The film also features other iconic comedians, including Sid Caesar, Shecky Greene, and Carl Reiner as the voice of God. The film ends with a teaser for the upcoming History of the World Part II, advertising such attractions as “A Viking Funeral” and “Hitler on Ice.” A sequel series, History of the World Part II, was released on Hulu in 2021, featuring Brooks as the narrator and a large cast of comedic talent from the new generation, including Nick Kroll, Seth Rogen, Jake Johnson, and Wanda Sykes.

To Be or Not to Be

To Be Or Not To Be is another Mel Brooks film that stands out for a few reasons. First, Mel Brooks did not write or direct the film; in fact, the film is actually a remake. Secondly, it stands out for Mel Brooks working alongside his wife, Anne Bancroft, starring as Frederick and Anna Bronski, two performers who run a theater in Poland in 1939 when the Nazis invade. This provides many comedic opportunities for Mel Brooks to do what he has always done best: Make fun of Hitler. What really makes the film shine is the chemistry between Brooks and Bancroft. Their mutual, real-life admiration for each other is clearly visible. Brooks and Bancroft are often cited as having one of the most enduring marriages in Hollywood history. Brooks has continued to speak very highly of Bancroft since her death in 2005, frequently referring to her as the love of his life. 

Spaceballs

Next, Mel Brooks ventures into the science fiction genre with 1987’s Spaceballs. A parody of Star Wars (among other science fiction franchises), Spaceballs stars Bill Pullman, John Candy, and Daphne Zuniga as parodies of the main Star Wars characters, with Joan Rivers featuring Dot Matrix, who serves as a parody of C-3PO. The film also stars Rick Moranis as Lord Helmet, one of the best comedy movie villains of all time. Brooks appears as well, in the dual roles of Yogurt (a parody of Yoda) and the evil President Skroob. Considered a cult classic, and proudly embraced by Star Wars fans and George Lucas himself, Spaceballs initially received a much more mixed reaction upon release. Many critics felt that Brooks was starting to depart from his satirical sensibilities and lean into a sillier tone. The 2026 documentary Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!, directed by Judd Apatow, features an interview clip from around the time of the film’s release where Brooks cheekily describes Skroob as being less of a leader and more of an “actor,” clearly implying an underlying commentary on the presidency of Ronald Reagan. Even when making silly Star Wars parodies, Mel Brooks has always been a satirical genius.

Robin Hood: Men in Tights

Brooks’s talent for directing great comedy continued into the early 1990s with Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Released two years after Kevin Costner’s portrayal of the character, Men in Tights features Cary Elwes, who actually can speak with an English accent. Brooks continues his signature silly approach to storytelling in this hilarious adaptation, which features performances from regulars such as Dom DeLuise and Dick Van Patten, as well as younger talents at the time, such as Tracey Ullman and Dave Chappelle. Brooks also appears as Rabbi Tuckman. The film was financially successful and is also considered a cult classic.

Other famous works from Mel Brooks include the silent comedy Silent Movie and the suspense thriller parody High Anxiety. He boldly departed from parodies with 1991’s Life Stinks. And finally, he revisited monster movie parodies with Dracula: Dead and Loving It, starring Leslie Nielsen as the eponymous character. Brooks also quietly produced multiple films, including David Lynch’s The Elephant Man. Brooks pursued these productions, often going uncredited, as a way to venture into more dramatic works without confusing audiences who would expect to see a comedy. Though he retired from directing, he never stopped working in some capacity, and is set to appear in the forthcoming and highly anticipated Spaceballs sequel, Spaceballs: The New One. The films of Mel Brooks remain popular and celebrated achievements in comedy and film. His distinct style of parody mixed with commentary has earned him a place among the best satirists in history, and he is often cited as one of the most influential comedy filmmakers of all time. Thank you, Mel Brooks, for one hundred years of laughs, and hopefully one thousand nine hundred more.