Mel Brooks Turns 100: A Legacy of Spoof and EGOT Glory

Mel Brooks, the American actor, comedian, and filmmaker, turned 100 on June 28, 2026. Born in 1926 to a Jewish family in New York, he began entertaining fellow soldiers during WWII, then performed stand-up in local clubs before being hired by TV host Sid Caesar as a writer for 'Your Show of Shows,' where he worked with Woody Allen and Carl Reiner. His directorial debut, 'The Producers' (1968), won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. In 1974, he released two iconic spoofs: 'Blazing Saddles' (a parody of 'High Noon') and 'Young Frankenstein' (a black-and-white homage to Universal's monster films). 'Spaceballs' (1987) lampooned 'Star Wars' and 'Star Trek.' Since the early 2000s, he has mostly done voice work for animated films like 'Toy Story 4' and 'Hotel Transylvania.' Brooks is one of only 20 artists to achieve EGOT status (Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, Tony).