NEW YORK — The “2000 Year Old Man” is about to reach a milestone of his own. Mel Brooks will mark his 100th birthday on Sunday.
The legendary comedian, writer and filmmaker has been looking ahead to the occasion. Earlier this year, Judd Apatow nodded to Brooks’ famous character with the title of his retrospective documentary: “Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!”
“I was born to make people laugh,” Brooks says in the film. “So, I do that.”
Brooks was born Melvin Kaminsky in Brooklyn, New York, on June 28, 1926. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II and sharpening his act in the Borscht Belt, he was brought on by Sid Caesar as a writer. While working on Caesar’s “Show of Shows,” Brooks met Carl Reiner, who became a lifelong friend and his partner in creating the beloved “2000 Year Old Man” routines.
In those sketches, Reiner would quiz Brooks’ ancient character about figures from history, including Jesus. “Jesus … yes, yes,” Brooks would answer. “Thin lad. Wore sandals. Always walked around with 12 other guys.”
Brooks later became one of Hollywood’s defining comic voices with films including “The Producers,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein” and “High Anxiety.” As he told The Associated Press in 2021, the foundation for it all was laid during his early years in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
“I wanted to keep the party going. I wanted to keep the happiness and joy and explosions of laughter going into a dour part of our lives, not our childhood anymore,” Brooks recalled. “I was once interviewed and the guy said, ‘What was the happiest part of your life? Was it winning the Academy Award? Was it marrying Anne Bancroft?’ I said no, not at all. It was my childhood. From about 4 or 5 to 9, it was the most exciting, happiest, joyous life that anyone could experience.
“The guy said, ‘What happened at 9?’ I said, ‘Homework.'”
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Even now, Brooks hasn’t retired. In April, Brooks submitted a video message to Eddie Murphy to honor him for his AFI life achievement award. In May, he announced that he was donating thousands of his documents and photographs to the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York.
“I’ve always been proud to say that I make people laugh for a living,” Brooks said then in a statement. “So, knowing that my work will have a home at comedy’s national archive and continue making people laugh leaves me with a deep sense of pride.”
To mark the occasion of Brooks’ centennial, the American Film Institute on Friday named 1974’s “Blazing Saddles” the funniest film of all time. It has previously ranked sixth on its list of 100 greatest movies. Brooks’ film displaced “Some Like It Hot” – which Brooks had long held wasn’t as funny as his movies – from the top spot.
“He’s right!,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and chief executive. “We’re happy to right this wrong as Mel celebrates his centennial. It’s good to be the king, and may he live to be a 2,000 year old man. Happy birthday, Mel!”
Brooks has sometimes made mortality a joke, too. In a 1980s sketch, he created a coin-operated gravestone for himself that played a videotaped message. It began: “I was Mel Brooks, one of the funniest little Jews to walk the Earth.”
When asked in that AP 2021 interview if he thought much about death, Brooks said no.
“I gave up after 60 thinking about it because if I did, I’d be thinking about it all the time. So I don’t think about it much. When and if it happens it’s going to be a sad day – for everybody but me,” Brooks said, laughing.
“I enjoy living,” he added. “I’d like to do it as long as I can.”
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