Brooks, James L (1940– )

US screenwriter, director, and producer. His film debut, revealing his talents in all three roles, was Terms of Endearment (1983), which earned Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. He also produced several successful sitcoms, including The Tracey Ullman Show (1987–90) and its hugely popular animated primetime spin-off, The Simpsons (1990– ).

He also wrote, directed, and produced the newsroom comedy Broadcast News (1987), As Good as it Gets (1997), featuring Academy Award-winning performances from stars Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt, and the romantic comedy Spanglish (1997). Through his company Gracie Films (founded in 1984), he produced the films Big (1988), Say Anything (1989), The War of the Roses (1989), and Jerry Maguire (1996).

He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and attended New York University 1958–60. He interned with CBS news in New York 1964–66 before moving to Los Angeles, California, where he worked for documentary producer David L Wolper (1928– ). He established a partnership with writer Allan Burns (1935– ) and together they created Brooks's first television series, Room 222, in 1969. The series was groundbreaking in focusing on issues such as drug abuse and race relations. The duo went on to create the classic comedy series The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–77), Rhoda (1974–78), and Taxi (1978–83).