Prolific Disney Star Turns 97

Comedian, composer, director, and (almost) Star Wars actor Mel Brooks is one of the greatest stars ever to grace the silver screen.

Starting his producing career in the ‘50s, Brooks was known to show up in his projects in small supporting roles for extra laughs. But the WWII veteran with a storied career in some of cinema’s most highly-regarded comedies isn’t just a spoof master, he’s one of the few in the industry to be an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) award winner.

With countless laughs in films like Space Balls (1987) and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), the high-profile star is celebrating an epic birthday today as he turns 97. To celebrate, let’s dive into why Disney fans can’t get enough of the king of spoofs.

Disney Flicks and Endless Kicks

A career spanning 70 years is no easy feat to achieve, but Brooks is the guy to do it. Born Melvin Kaminsky on June 28, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York, the iconic star hit the scene with a lesser-known talent.

Brooks played the drums at nightclubs in the Catskills before launching his own comedy act. Working the kinks out of his quips at Grossinger’s Resort as Master Entertainer, he mastered the comedy craft before kickstarting a career in television. As a writer, Brooks was behind “Your Show of Shows” (1950), “Caesar’s Hour” (1954), the Broadway production called “Shinbone Alley,” and even the beloved “Dick Van Dyke Show.” Other foundational works under Brooks’ belt before striking Hollywood gold were “Get Smart” (1965) and “The 2000 Year Old Man” (1975).

While some may know of Brooks’ early highlights, the world knows him for the kicks in the ultimate parody films: Space Balls (1987) and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993). The Disney-adjacent flicks featured Brooks as Yogurt, a hilarious side character in Space Balls, and Rabbi Tuckman, a spoof on Friar Tuck, in Robin Hood. While Pizza the Hut and Yogurt won’t be found anywhere near Galaxy’s Edge, some of Brooks’ animated characters are much closer to the Disney Parks.

Brooks was behind the blue elephant toy with a quirky trunk, Melephant Brooks, in Toy Story 4 (2019). The icon also starred opposite Kermit as Professor Max Krassman in The Muppet Movie (1979) as the mastermind behind mind control in frogs.

Going Strong at 97

The man behind fixtures in cinematic history like Blazing Saddles (1974), History of the World: Part I (1981), Silent Movie (1976), Young Frankenstein (1974), High Anxiety (1977), Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995), it would make sense for the director to yell “cut!” on his career.

In March, Brooks debuted a sequel 40 years from his film History of the World: Part I on Hulu. Titled History of the World: Part II, the sketch comedy series featured Brooks as the creator, writer, and narrator. The star-powered project also featured Nick Kroll, Wanda Sykes, Ike Barinholtz, David Stassen, Kevin Salter, and Christie Smith.

While news of further sequels has yet to be announced, we’ll leave with a sentiment that Brooks has centered throughout his career:

Life literally abounds in comedy if you just look around you.

Happy Birthday, Mel Brooks! You’ve given us endless reasons to honor you daily with laughter.