Mel Brooks

Mel has four children, three from his first marriage and one from his marriage to Anne Bancroft.

Mel started out in show business as a stand-up comic.

Mel and Anne Bancroft married at New York City Hall, where a passer-by served as their witness.

Mel's wife, Anne Bancroft, died in 2005. They had been married since 1964.

Mel frequently uses in his movies the line: "we have much to do and less time to do it in".

Mel and Anne Bancroft met on the set of a TV talk show, and Mel later paid a woman who worked on the show to tell him which restaurant Bancroft was going to eat at that night so he could "accidentally" bump into her again and strike up a conversation.

Mel was named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001."

Mel was named one of People Magazine's "25 Most Intriguing People of 2001".

Mel's grandson, Henry Michael Brooks, was born April 2005.

Mel's favorite song is Yankee Doodle Dandy by George M. Cohan.

Mel's favorite films are The Bicycle Thief (1948) and Grand Illusion (1937).

Mel is an avid fan of Russian literature, occasionally making references to works and writers in his films.

Mel's stage name is an adaptation of his mother's maiden name (Brookman).

Mel's films usually contain many Jewish references.

Though Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein are often cited as Mel's best and most popular films as a director, his biggest video sales are Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men In Tights.

According to Mel's 1975 Playboy interview, Mel's favorite candy is Raisinets.

Mel's visionary film company, Brooksfilms Limited, has produced some of America's most distinguished films, including The Elephant Man, The Fly, Frances, My Favourite Year and 84 Charing Cross Road.

Mel began his career as a writer on Your Show of Shows; Caesar's Hour and Get Smart.

Mel screenplay for The Producers and his Animated Short Subject The Critic AND ...a four-time Emmy winner - one as a writer on The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special, and three for his guest appearances on Mad about you AND ...a three-time Tony winner for his first Boradway production, The Producers; the new Mel Brooks musical, which earned him awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Musical Score in 2001 AND ...a three-time Grammy-winner - for Best Musical Show Album for The Producers; B e s t Long Form Music Video for Recording The Producers:AMusical Romp with Mel Brooks; and Best Spoken Word Album: Comedy for The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000.

Mel is one of the few people to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony.

Mel produced and wrote the music, lyrics, and book for the Broadway musical version of The Producers.

Mel served as a corporal in the US army in North Africa during World War II.

Mel's height is 5' 7" (1.70 m).

Mel frequently casts himself, Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman, Rudy DeLuca and Madeline Kahn.