James L. Brooks
American director, writer, and producer · United States · On the map · Directors · Born 1940 · age 86
James Lawrence Brooks is an American director, producer and screenwriter, and the founder of Gracie Films. He co-created the sitcoms The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, and The Simpsons and directed the films Terms of Endearment (1983), Broadcast News (1987), and As Good as It Gets (1997).
James L. Brooks is read about 968 times a day, in 46 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 8 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 409 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
2026
Extreme Makeover: Homer EditionFilm, Producer2024
Disney Legends Award CeremonySeries
May the 12th Be with YouFilm, 2024Producer2022
Hans Zimmer: Hollywood RebelFilm2020
Maggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny"Film, Writer, Producer2018
IceboxFilm, Producer2015
Misery Loves ComedyFilm2010
How Do You KnowFilm, Director, Writer2004
SpanglishFilm, Director, Writer2001
What About Joan?Series, Producer1997
As Good as It GetsFilm, Director, Writer1994
I'll Do AnythingFilm, Director, Writer1993
PhenomSeries, Producer1989
Prisoners of GravitySeries
Say Anything...Film, 1989Producer1987
Broadcast NewsFilm, Director, Writer1984Academy Award for Best DirectorAwardAcademy Award for Best PictureAwardAcademy Award for Best Writing, Adapted ScreenplayAward1983
Terms of EndearmentFilm, Director, Writer1979
The AssociatesSeries, Creator, Producer
Real LifeFilm, 1979Driving Evaluator1977Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy SeriesAward1975
Saturday Night LiveSeries, Paul Reynolds (uncredited)1971Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy SeriesAward1970
The Mary Tyler Moore ShowSeries, Writer, Creator1968
The Doris Day ShowSeries, Writer1966
That GirlSeries, Writer1960
The Andy Griffith ShowSeries, Writer1940Born9 May 1940
Extreme Makeover: Homer EditionFilm, Producer2024Disney Legends Award CeremonySeriesMay the 12th Be with YouFilm, 2024Producer2022Hans Zimmer: Hollywood RebelFilm2020Maggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny"Film, Writer, Producer2018IceboxFilm, Producer2015Misery Loves ComedyFilm2010How Do You KnowFilm, Director, Writer2004SpanglishFilm, Director, Writer2001What About Joan?Series, Producer1997As Good as It GetsFilm, Director, Writer1994I'll Do AnythingFilm, Director, Writer1993PhenomSeries, Producer1989Prisoners of GravitySeriesSay Anything...Film, 1989Producer1987Broadcast NewsFilm, Director, Writer1984Academy Award for Best DirectorAwardAcademy Award for Best PictureAwardAcademy Award for Best Writing, Adapted ScreenplayAward1983Terms of EndearmentFilm, Director, Writer1979The AssociatesSeries, Creator, ProducerReal LifeFilm, 1979Driving Evaluator1977Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy SeriesAward1975Saturday Night LiveSeries, Paul Reynolds (uncredited)1971Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy SeriesAward1970The Mary Tyler Moore ShowSeries, Writer, Creator1968The Doris Day ShowSeries, Writer1966That GirlSeries, Writer1960The Andy Griffith ShowSeries, Writer1940Born9 May 1940People around James
Close ties
Jack Nicholson James directed As Good as It Gets (1998)
Matt Groening Also in The Simpsons Movie (2007)
Albert Brooks James produced Terms of Endearment (1984)
David Silverman Also in Maggie Simpson in "The Force Awakens from Its Nap" (2021)
Al Jean Also in The Simpsons Movie (2007)
David Mirkin Also in The Simpsons Movie (2007)
Matt Selman Also in The Simpsons Movie (2007)
Richard Sakai Also in Bottle Rocket and Jerry Maguire
Polly Platt Produced Broadcast News and I'll Do Anything
Danny DeVito James produced The War of the Roses and Taxi
Woody Harrelson James directed Ella McCay and I'll Do Anything
Laurence Mark Produced As Good as It Gets and How Do You Know
Dan Castellaneta James produced The War of the Roses (1990)
Julie Kavner James produced Ella McCay (2025)
Mike Reiss Also in The Simpsons Movie (2007)
Joel H. Cohen Also in Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare" (2012)
Owen Wilson James produced How Do You Know and Bottle Rocket
Cuba Gooding Jr. James directed As Good as It Gets (1998)
Harry Shearer James directed I'll Do Anything (1994)
Mary Kay Place James produced Terms of Endearment (1984)
Andrew Wilson James produced How Do You Know and Bottle Rocket
Angela Goethals James produced Jerry Maguire (1997)
David Moscow James produced Big and Riding in Cars with Boys
Tara Subkoff James produced As Good as It Gets (1998)
Known for
View all 40 titles
Yellow Mirror 2026
Simpsley 2026
Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition 2026
Maggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny" 2020
As Good as It Gets 1997
Filmography 40
124 credits on file
Television 23
Media & music
Awards
About this person
He received numerous accolades including three Academy Awards, 22 Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award.
Country
United States
Category
Directors
Type
Movie Director
Status
Living
Dates
Born 1940 · age 86
