James L. Brooks

This article is about series executive producer. For For the character, see James L. Brooks (character).

James L. Brooks

Crew Information Gender: Male ♂ Job: Producer Writer Birth date: May 9, 1940 (1940-05-09) Status: Active Number of episodes: 775 Seasons active: Season 1 - Present First episode: "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" Most recent episode: "Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes" First game: The Simpsons: Hit & Run Most recent game: The Simpsons Game Song: Sibling Rivalry" First album: The Simpsons Sing the Blues Latest album: The Simpsons: Testify

James Lawrence Brooks (born May 9, 1940), known professionally as James L. Brooks, is a producer, writer, and film director.

He is best known for producing classic TV shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Simpsons, Rhoda, Taxi, and The Tracey Ullman Show. His best-known film is his directorial debut, Terms of Endearment, for which he received three Academy Awards in 1984. He has also voiced himself in the episode "A Star Is Born Again". He was also interviewed in The Simpsons: Celebrity Friends, The Simpsons: Mischief & Mayhem, The Simpsons: Access All Areas, The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special – In 3-D! On Ice!, and The Simpsons: America's First Family. He will get a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 2015.

Biography

James L. Brooks was raised in a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York. Brooks began his television career as a writer for CBS News from 1964 to 1966. After working for the ABC television series Room 222 as executive story editor, Brooks was hired along with writing partner Allan Burns by television executive Grant Tinker to create a show that would later become The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show became a critical and commercial success and spawned other television shows created by Brooks and Burns such as Rhoda, Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, Taxi, The Associates, and Lou Grant.

In 1978, Brooks began work on feature motion films. His first project was being writer and co-producer on the film Starting Over and later wrote, produced, and directed Terms of Endearment in 1983.

Brooks later started his own film and television production company, Gracie Films, in 1984. Gracie Films would produce the television series The Tracey Ullman Show and its spin-off, The Simpsons. He also produced the Jon Lovitz animated series The Critic. Gracie Films' notable film productions were Jerry Maguire, As Good as It Gets, Bottle Rocket, and Broadcast News.

Brooks had a cameo in the The Simpsons episode "A Star Is Born Again". He also played a semi-fictional version of himself in friend Albert Brooks' comedy Modern Romance as an opinionated film director.

Trivia

Brooks was well known for being in the studio audience of many shows that he produced in the mid 70s. Viewers can usually tell whether Brooks was in the audience by his distinctive loud guffaw. He would also make an occasional uncredited cameo appearance.

Brooks was a producer in the 1989 film War of the Roses, which Dan Castellaneta appeared in. This marked the first time a producer and actor worked on a project together outside of The Simpsons.

Credits

Special thanks to

• Video game – The Simpsons Bowling

Creative consultant

• Video game – The Simpsons: Hit & Run

The Simpsons executive producer

• Video game – The Simpsons Game

Written by

• Album – The Simpsons Sing the Blues ("Sibling Rivalry")
• Special – The Longest Daycare
• Special – Playdate with Destiny

Produced by

• Special – Playdate with Destiny

For The Simpsons

• Album – Songs in the Key of Springfield
• Album – Go Simpsonic with The Simpsons
• Album – The Simpsons: Testify

Executive soundtrack album producer

• Album – The Simpsons Movie: The Music

Parody lyrics by

• Album – The Simpsons Movie: The Music ("Spider Pig")

Hans Zimmer would like to thank

• Album – The Simpsons Movie: The Music

Interviewee

• Special – The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special – In 3-D! On Ice!

Commentary

• Commentary – Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
• Commentary – Bart the Genius
• Commentary – Bart the General
• Commentary – Life on the Fast Lane
• Commentary – Some Enchanted Evening

External links

• James L. Brooks at the Internet Movie Database
• James L. Brooks at Wikipedia
• James L. Brooks at MobyGames

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Showrunners James L. Brooks • Matt Groening • Al Jean • George Meyer • David Mirkin • Bill Oakley • Mike Reiss • Mike Scully • Matt Selman • Sam Simon • Josh Weinstein Co-showrunners Brian Kelley • Rob LaZebnik • Tim Long • Carolyn Omine • Michael Price Executive producers and Co-executive producers Current executive producers James L. Brooks • John Frink • Matt Groening • Al Jean • Matt Selman • Sam Simon* Former executive producers David X. Cohen • Tim Long • Ian Maxtone-Graham • George Meyer • David Mirkin • Bill Oakley • Carolyn Omine • Mike Reiss • Mike Scully • Josh Weinstein Other executive producers Scot Amos • Nick Bliobenes • Fritz Bronner • Dominic Buttimore • Steve Callaghan • Jeremy Chilnick • Charlie Dixon • Nandish Domlur • Jay Fukuto • Rick Giolito • Greg Goodrich • Seth Green • Dan Harmon • John Harvatine IV • Mark Hentemann • Clare Hollywood • Larry Jones • Foo Katan • Richard Kay • Leigh Kelly • Scott Krager • Brad Lewis • David Lipman • Jake Myrick • Jim Myrick • Rob Pratt • Kent Rice • Justin Roiland • Tom Root • Carl Rosendahl • Matthew Senreich • Eric Shanks • Denise Sirkot • Danny Smith • Gabe Spitzer • Morgan Spurlock • Chris Takami • Fumiaki Tanaka • Eric Towner • Kara Vallow • Nikki Vanzo • Michael Webb Current co-executive producers J. Stewart Burns • Dan Castellaneta • Joel H. Cohen • Brian Kelley • Ryan Koh • Rob LaZebnik • Tim Long • Christine Nangle • Michael Price • Dan Vebber • Jeff Westbrook Former co-executive producers Richard Appel • Elisabeth Kiernan Averick • Donick Cary • Daniel Chun • David X. Cohen • Kevin Curran • Greg Daniels • John Frink • Dana Gould • Dan Greaney • Ron Hauge • Al Jean • Josh Lieb • Ian Maxtone-Graham • George Meyer • Frank Mula • Bill Odenkirk • Carolyn Omine • Don Payne • Mike Reiss • Jace Richdale • Mike Scully • Matt Selman • Julie Thacker • Steve Tompkins • Matt Warburton • Marc Wilmore Other co-executive producers Cherry Chevapravatdumrong • Keith Crofford • Tom Devanney • Mike Lazzo • Patrick Meighan • Brian Scully • John Viener Guest stars in season 14 Mick Jagger • Keith Richards • Tom Petty • Lenny Kravitz • Brian Setzer • Elvis Costello • Tony Bennett • Baha Men (Patrick Carey • Omerit Hield • Marvin Prosper) • Adam West • Burt Ward • Larry Holmes • David Lander • Kelsey Grammer • Little Richard • Elliott Gould • Pamela Reed • Ken Burns • Lisa Leslie • Tony Hawk • Blink-182 (Tom DeLonge • Mark Hoppus • Travis Barker) • George Plimpton • Marisa Tomei • Helen Fielding • James L. Brooks • Eric Idle • "Weird Al" Yankovic • Scott Thompson • Ben Schatz • David Byrne • Jonathan Taylor Thomas • Andy Serkis • Stacy Keach • Steve Buscemi • Jackson Browne • Jane Kaczmarek The Simpsons: America's First Family interviewees Hank Azaria • James L. Brooks • Nancy Cartwright • Dan Castellaneta • Alf Clausen • Mel Gibson • Matt Groening • Al Jean • Tom Jones • Julie Kavner • Steven Dean Moore • Mike Scully • Yeardley Smith • Joseph Wack Interviewees in The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special – In 3-D! On Ice! Host Morgan Spurlock Cast and crew Hank Azaria • Brad Bird • James L. Brooks • Nancy Cartwright • Dan Castellaneta • Dana Gould • Matt Groening • Al Jean • Julie Kavner • David Mirkin • Conan O'Brien • Mike Reiss • Mike Scully • Matt Selman • David Silverman • Sam Simon • Yeardley Smith • Matt Warburton Guest stars Hugh Hefner • Mike Judge • Joe Mantegna • Dan Rather • Jerry Springer • Sting • Tracey Ullman • John Waters Opening music montage Bellowhead • Chicha Libre • Jimmy Fallon • Flea • Eric Fraser • Sameer Gupta • Adam Lintz • Neel Murgai • The Bill Murray Experience • O.A.R. • People Under the Stairs (Double K • Thes One) • The Roots • Michael Sherman • Jonathan Stein • Andrew W.K. • ZZ Top (Billy Gibbons • Dusty Hill) Interviewees Noel Bankhead* • Bruce Bryant • George H. W. Bush* • Liz Cameron • Scott Choate • David Cross • William Anthony Donohue* • Ariel Filosa • Bjarni Gautur* • Paula Gobbi • Paul Halpern • Marc Horne • Jensen • Jimmy Kimmel • Seth MacFarlane • Mark McGhee • Seth Meyers • Moby • Rusty Nails • Gavin Newsom • Trey Parker • J. Scott Peterson • Kenneth Pogson • Lucas Pouyau • Rashad Robinson • Chad Rowland • Matt Stone • Richard Sumrall • Ruth Westheimer* • Jeremy Wilcox* • Andrena Williams • Brian Williams • Glynne Williams Music crew Composers Ryeland Allison • Ryan Baer • Lorne Balfe • Marc Baril • Jim Beanz • Belle and Sebastian • Michele Bertoldi • Bleeding Fingers Music • Sylvain Chomet • Alf Clausen • Scott Clausen • Jemaine Clement • Ray Colcord • The Decemberists • Jack Dolgen • James Dooley • Clay Duncan • Ryan Elder • Danny Elfman • Juan Carlos Enriquez • Mark Ganus • Michael Giacchino • Mick Giacchino • Richard Gibbs • Norio Hanzawa • James Hebdon • Henry Jackman • Brian Langsbard • Ruggero Leoncavallo • Michael A. Levine • Alex Mauer • Maureen McElheron • Bret McKenzie • Mark Mothersbaugh • John E. Nordstrom • Eric Nunamaker • Laurence O'Keefe • Atli Örvarsson • Gregory Prechel • Kira Randolph • Arthur B. Rubinstein • Allen Simpson • Stephen Sondheim • Jon Spurney • Matthew Sweet • Asa Taccone • Kara Talve • Kingsley Thurber • Jeffrey Townsend • Christopher Tyng • Patrick Williams • Davin Wood • Hans Zimmer Music editors Bob Beecher • Stan Jones • Chris Ledesma • Daniel Pinder • Ryan Rubin • Jake Schaefer • Erich Stratmann • Derek Syverud • Tom Trafalski Music engineers Bryant Arnett • Thomas Broderick • Mark Chalecki • Richard Cottrell • Guy DeFazio • Robert Gatley • Paul Grupp • Mick Guzauski • Richard Joseph • Jesse Kanner • Acar S. Key • Judy Kirschner • Tod Lemkuhl • Bryan Loren • Scott Mabuchi • Tony Maserati • John Moyer • Ernie Rose • Pete Oso Snell • Geoff Sykes • Greg Vines • Matt Ward Music producers Bob Beecher • John Boylan • James L. Brooks • George Clinton • Robert Clivillés • David Cole • Oliver Davis • David Dorn • Derek Dressler • Russell Emanuel • Robert L. Emmer • Alan Friedman • Greg Haver • DJ Jazzy Jeff • Steve Kofsky • Chris Ledesma • Bryan Loren • Mickey Petralia • Steven Schnur • Gary Stewart • Jai Winding • Hans Zimmer Orchestrators Steve Bartek • Alf Clausen • Scott Clausen • Tim Davies • Brad Dechter • Elizabeth Finch • Bruce Fowler • Walt Fowler • Dell Hake • Andrew Kinney • Ken Kugler • Suzette Moriarty • Dana Niu • Gregory Prechel • Larry Rench • Brandon Roberts • Geoff Stradling • Marcus Trumpp Singers and vocalists Lisa Angelle • Kaylee Arellano • Baha Men • George Balmeseda • Tony Battaglia • Peter Beckett • Gerry Beckley • Josh Bedlion • Karen Bernod • Ben Bledsoe • Eric Bradley • Alexandra Brown • Jackson Browne • Rosemary Butler • Amick Byram • David Byrne • Marie Cain • James Campbell • Mark Campbell • Elin Carlson • Carmen Carter • Dawn Halloran Charouhas • Emily Charouhas • Patty Chayefsky • Alvin Chea • Alf Clausen • John Coggins • Deborah Cooper • Randy Crenshaw • J.C. Crowley • Michael Dees • Angel DeLeon • Marwenna Diame • Chelsea Di Blasi • Denise Donatelli • George Economou • Allie Feder • Roger Freeland • James Gilstrap • Andrew Gold • Will Goldman • Shelby Grimm • Nicholas Harper • Walt Harrah • James Hayden • Todd Honeycutt • Michael "J" Horn • Clydene Jackson • David Johansen • Dan Jordan • Bob Joyce • Eloise Kelsey • Kesha • Mary Kiani • Gladys Knight • Darlene Koldenhoven • Edie Lehmann-Boddicker • Kipp Lennon • Rick Logan • Hazel Lopez • Bryan Loren • Trey Lorenz • Ricky Lucchese • Aron Michael Manderosian • Robert J. Manderosian • Sara Mann • Ian Mayorga • Nick McKaig • Donna Medine • Gene Merlino • Cindy Mizelle • Ted Moock • Gene Morford • D. K. Okoh • Caitlin Parrott • P-Funk All-Stars • Aaron Page • Caitlin Parrott • Darryl Phinnessee • Michele Pillar • Duran Ramos • Jasper Randall • John Reid • Boots Riley • Linda Ronstadt • Jessica Rotter • Laurie Rox • Timothy B. Schmit • Fletcher Sheridan • Jill Sobule • Stefani Spruill • Caitlin Stafford • Bart Stevens • Sally Stevens • Susie Stevens-Logan • Todd Strange • Carole Sylvan • Matthew Sweet • Marc Terenzi • Chris Thompson • Carmen Twillie • Twinkle • Richard Voltorp • Julia Waters • Maxine Waters • Oren Waters • Suzanne Waters • Dick Wells • John West • Greg Whipple • Ann White • Gerald White • Jerry Whitman • B. David Whitworth • Ann Wilson • Nancy Wilson • Stevie Wonder Song writers Lisa Angelle • Burt Bacharach • Tony Battaglia • Gerry Beckley • Herman Beeftink • William Bell • Chuck Berry • John Boylan • James L. Brooks • James Campbell • George Clinton • Robert Clivillés • David Cole • Angel DeLeon • Zooey Deschanel • Jack Dolgen • George Economou • Alan Friedman • Ricky Gervais • Shelby Grimm • Matt Groening • Bob Harris • Greg Haver • Tim Heidecker • Arthur Herzog, Jr. • Billie Holiday • Robert Israel • Al Jean • DJ Jazzy Jeff • Robert Johnson • Booker T. Jones • Dan Jordan • Louis Kabbabie • Jay Kogen • Adam I. Lapidus • Annie Lennox • Bobby Lopez • Bryan Loren • Jeff Martin • Mike McKnight • Willie Nelson • Randy Newman • Laurence O'Keefe • Curt Ousley • Mickey Petralia • Cole Porter • Rex Promise • Duran Ramos • Mike Reiss • Boots Riley • Sam Simon • Allen Simpson • Jill Sobule • Dave Stewart • Richard Strauss • Matthew Sweet • Eric Wareheim • Paul Webster • Jai Winding • Wallace Wolodarsky Other Murray Adler • Shahid "Quality Notch" Ahmad • Slamm Andrews • Richard Bishop • Claudius Bruese • Cary Butler • John Chamberlin • John Witt Chapman • Chuck Choi • Al Clay • Victor Cooke • Sandy De Crescent • Carol Farhat • Nick Glennie-Smith • Kevin Globerman • Leslie Ann Jones • Juliani Music • Chris King • Paul Klingberg • Mike Knobloch • Robert Kraft • Julie Last • Dan Light • Mike Long • Matthew Margeson • George Massenburg • Alan Meyerson • Michael John Mollo • Rebecca Morellato • Blake Neely • Christina Paakkari • Francesco Perlangeli • Jacquie Perryman • Rick Riccio • Peter Rotter • Mike Rubin • Czarina Russell • Jacob Shea • Scott Michael Smith • Sonic Fuel Studios • Noah Sorota • Brian Sperber • Tom Steel • Armin Steiner • Patricia Sullivan • Brett Swain • Dolph Taylor • Mark Wherry • Booker White • Andrew Zack