Albert Brooks
Albert Brooks | |
|---|---|
 Brooks at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2011 | |
| Born | Albert Lawrence Einstein July 22, 1947 |
| Alma mater | Carnegie Mellon University |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouse |
Harry Einstein (father) |
| Relatives |
|
| Website | albertbrooks |
Albert Brooks (born Albert Lawrence Einstein; July 22, 1947)[1] is an American actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 1987 comedy-drama film Broadcast News and was widely praised for his performance in the 2011 action drama film Drive.[2] Brooks has also acted in films such as Taxi Driver (1976), Private Benjamin (1980), Unfaithfully Yours (1984), and My First Mister (2001). He has written, directed, and starred in several comedy films, such as Modern Romance (1981), Lost in America (1985), and Defending Your Life (1991). He is also the author of 2030: The Real Story of What Happens to America (2011).
Brooks has also voiced several characters in animated films and television shows. His voice acting roles include Marlin in Finding Nemo (2003) and its sequel Finding Dory (2016), Tiberius in The Secret Life of Pets (2016), and several one-time characters in The Simpsons, including Hank Scorpio in "You Only Move Twice" (1996) and Russ Cargill in The Simpsons Movie (2007).
Early life
Brooks was born Albert Lawrence Einstein on July 22, 1947 into a
Career
Early career
Brooks attended
After two successful comedy albums, Comedy Minus One (1973) and the
In 1975, Brooks directed six short films for the first season of NBC's Saturday Night Live.[9] In 1976, he appeared in his first mainstream film role, in Martin Scorsese's landmark Taxi Driver; Scorsese allowed Brooks to improvise much of his dialogue.[10]
Brooks directed his first feature film,
1981–1999
Through the 1980s and 1990s, Brooks co-wrote (with long-time collaborator Monica Johnson), directed and starred in a series of well-received comedies, playing variants on his standard neurotic and self-obsessed character. These include 1981's Modern Romance, where Brooks played a film editor desperate to win back his ex-girlfriend (Kathryn Harrold). The film received a limited release and ultimately grossed under $3 million domestically.[13] His best-received film, Lost in America (1985), featured Brooks and Julie Hagerty as a couple who leave their yuppie lifestyle and drop out of society to live in a motor home as they have always dreamed of doing, meeting disappointment.
Brooks's
Brooks has appeared as a guest voice on
Brooks also acted in other writers' and directors' films during the 1980s and 1990s. He had a cameo in the opening scene of
2000–present
Brooks received positive reviews for his portrayal of a dying retail store owner who befriends a disillusioned teenager (played by Leelee Sobieski) in My First Mister (2001). Brooks continued his voiceover work in Pixar's Finding Nemo (2003), as the voice of Marlin, one of the film's protagonists.
His 2005 film Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World was dropped by Sony Pictures due to their desire to change the title. Warner Independent Pictures purchased the film and gave it a limited release in January 2006; the film received mixed reviews and a low box office gross. As with Real Life, Brooks plays a fictionalized "Albert Brooks", a filmmaker ostensibly commissioned by the US government to see what makes the Muslim people laugh, and sending him on a tour of India and Pakistan.
In 2006 he appeared in the documentary film
2030: The Real Story of What Happens to America, his first novel, was published by St. Martin's Press on May 10, 2011.[17]
Brooks co-starred as the vicious gangster Bernie Rose, the main antagonist in the 2011 film Drive, alongside Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan. His performance received much critical praise and positive reviews. After receiving awards and nominations from several film festivals and critic groups, but not an Academy Award nomination, Brooks responded humorously on Twitter, "And to the Academy: ‘You don't like me. You really don't like me’."[18][19]
Brooks voiced Tiberius, a curmudgeonly red-tailed hawk, in the 2016 film The Secret Life of Pets, and reprised the role of Marlin in Finding Dory the same year.
In early November 2023, a documentary about the comedian/filmmaker,
Personal life
In 1997, Brooks married artist Kimberly Shlain, daughter of surgeon and writer Leonard Shlain.[21][1] They have two children, Jacob and Claire[22][1] and live in Santa Monica, California.[23]
Works
as Director
| Year | Title | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| 1971/1972 | "Albert Brooks's Famous School for Comedians"[24] | PBS |
| 1979 | Real Life | Paramount Pictures |
| 1981 | Modern Romance | Columbia Pictures |
| 1985 | Lost in America | Warner Bros. |
| 1991 | Defending Your Life | |
| 1996 | Mother | Paramount Pictures |
| 1999 | The Muse
|
October Films |
| 2005 | Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World | Warner Independent Pictures |
Comedy albums
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Comedy Minus One | live[25] |
| 1975 | A Star Is Bought | studio[26] |
Literature
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2030: The Real Story of What Happens to America |
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Taxi Driver | Tom | |
| 1979 | Real Life | Albert Brooks | Also writer/director |
| 1980 | Private Benjamin | Yale Goodman | |
| 1981 | Modern Romance | Robert Cole | Also writer/director |
| 1983 | Twilight Zone: The Movie | Car Driver | Segment: "Prologue" |
| Terms of Endearment | Rudyard | Voice; credited as "A. Brooks" | |
| 1984 | Unfaithfully Yours | Norman Robbins | |
| 1985 | Lost in America | David Howard | Also writer/director |
| 1987 | Broadcast News | Aaron Altman | Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1991 | Defending Your Life | Daniel Miller | Also writer/director |
| 1994 | I'll Do Anything | Burke Adler | |
| The Scout | Al Percolo | Also writer | |
| 1996 | Mother | John Henderson | Also writer/director |
| 1997 | Critical Care | Dr. Butz | |
| 1998 | Dr. Dolittle | Jacob the Tiger | Voice |
| Out of Sight | Richard Ripley | ||
| 1999 | The Muse
|
Steven Phillips | Also writer/director |
| 2001 | My First Mister | Randall 'R' Harris | |
| 2003 | Finding Nemo | Marlin | Voice |
| Exploring the Reef with Jean-Michel Cousteau | Voice, short film | ||
| The In-Laws | Jerry Peyser | ||
| 2005 | Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World | Himself | Also writer/director |
| 2007 | The Simpsons Movie | Russ Cargill | Voice; credited as "A. Brooks" |
| 2011 | Drive | Bernie Rose | |
| 2012 | This Is 40 | Larry | |
| 2014 | A Most Violent Year | Andrew Walsh | |
| 2015 | The Little Prince | The Businessman | Voice |
| Concussion | Cyril Wecht | ||
| 2016 | Finding Dory | Marlin | Voice |
| The Secret Life of Pets | Tiberius | ||
| 2017 | I Love You, Daddy | Dick Welker | Voice; credited as "A. Brooks" |
| 2023 | Albert Brooks: Defending My Life | Himself | Documentary |
| 2025 | Ella McCay | Filming |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Hot Wheels | Mickey Barnes / Kip Chogi | Voice |
| 1970 | The Odd Couple | Rudy | 2 episodes[27] |
| 1971 | Love, American Style | Christopher Leacock | Episode 2.16: "Love and Operation Model" |
| 1972 | The New Dick Van Dyke Show | Dr. Norman | Episode 2.2: "The Needle" |
| 1975–1976 | Saturday Night Live | Interviewer / Bob / Heart Surgeon | Assistant director: 7 episodes Writer: 5 episodes Actor: 4 episodes |
| 1990–2023 | The Simpsons | Hank Scorpio, Jacques, Various roles | Voice, 9 episodes; credited as "A. Brooks" |
| 2008 | Weeds | Lenny Botwin | 4 episodes |
| 2021 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Himself | Episode: "The Five-Foot Fence" |
Awards and nominations
References
- ^ a b c d e "Albert Brooks Biography (1947-)". www.filmreference.com. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ "Academy Awards 1987". filmsite.org.
- ^ Astarte Piccione, Rachel (January 2006). "Comedy in The Muslim World". EGO Magazine. Archived from the original on February 10, 2006.
- ^ Kaufman, Peter (January 22, 2006). "The background on Albert Brooks". The Washington Post, The Buffalo News. Accessed April 24, 2008. "Albert Brooks, who grew up in a showbiz family and attended Beverly Hills High School, has never been interested in being an outsider."
- ^ Lambert, Pam (January 27, 1997). "Mother Lode". People. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ^ McCall, Cheryl. "Psst! Albert Brooks Isn't Kin to Mel Except in Comedy". People. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015.
- ^ "Turn-On (TV Series 1969-) Full Cast and Crew". IMDb. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
- ^ Ramsey Ess (January 4, 2013). "The Short Films of Albert Brooks". Archived February 14, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Ess, Ramsey (January 4, 2013). "The Short Films of Albert Brooks". Vulture. Vox Media, LLC. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
- ^ "Albert Brooks takes a look back on his career". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
- The Times-Picayune.
- ^ Howard Zieff (director) (October 10, 1980). Private Benjamin (Film). Warner Brothers.
- ^ "Modern Romance box office". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on March 19, 2006. Retrieved March 12, 2006.
- ^ Film Comment, Jan/Feb 1999, All The Choices: Albert Brooks Interview
- ^ Goldman, Eric; Iverson, Dan; Zoromski, Brian. "Top 25 Simpsons Guest Appearances". IGN. Archived from the original on March 8, 2007. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (April 14, 2008). "Weeds Scoop: Albert Brooks Is Nancy's 'Dad'". TV Guide.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (May 1, 2011). "A Wry Eye on Problems of the Future". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 1, 2022.
- ^ Hughes, Sarah Anne (January 24, 2012). "Albert Brooks not nominated for Oscar: 'I got ROBBED ... I mean literally. My pants and shoes have been stolen'". The Washington Post.
- ^ Barmak, Sarah (January 27, 2012). "Talking Points: Hollywood abuzz over Oscar snubs". Toronto Star.
- ^ Fienberg, Daniel (October 26, 2023). "'Albert Brooks: Defending My Life' Review: Rob Reiner's Delightful HBO Doc Tribute Leaves You Wanting More". hollywoodreporter.com. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Rochlin, Margy (August 22, 1999). "A Funnyman Whose Muse is in the Mirror". The New York Times.
- ^ Apatow, Judd (January 2013). "Our Mr. Brooks". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
- ^ Archived 2014-10-31 at the Wayback Machine
- ISBN 978-1-4803-6686-2.
- ^ "Albert Brooks - Comedy Minus One". Discogs. 1973. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ "Albert Brooks - A Star Is Bought". Discogs. 1975. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- IMDb
External links
- Official website
- Albert Brooks at IMDb
- Albert Brooks at AllMovie
- Interview: Albert Brooks: Comedy And Dystopia Archived May 13, 2016, at the Wayback Machine – On Point.
- "The films of Albert Brooks". Hell Is For Hyphenates. January 31, 2014.
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