Inside Mel Brooks’ star-studded family – meet the four children who followed him into showbiz
May the Schwartz be with you! Mel Brooks is a star-powered name in comedy, directing, scriptwriting and acting. Considering he’s long been a force to be reckoned with, it’s no surprise that Mel’s four kids from across his two marriages have followed his footsteps into the industry.
Before my keyboard gets ‘jammed’ (raspberry of course), jump into the life of Mel Brook’s four children and find out what film project had the power of two Brooks creatives behind it.
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Mel Brooks is responsible for iconic comedies like ‘The Producers’, ‘Young Frankenstein’ and ‘Spaceballs’
Who is Mel Brooks?
Mel Brooks defines what it is to find success as a multi-hyphenate in the film industry. He’s worked as a writer, director, comedian, producer and actor, but is best known for comedies like Spaceballs and Blazing Saddles.
He directed and wrote legendary comedy musical The Producers starring Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel, and collaborated with Gene Wilder on Young Frankenstein seven years later.
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Mel Brooks and Florence Baum welcomed daughter Stephanie in 1956
Stephanie Brooks, 70
The Young Frankenstein director’s eldest child and only daughter Stephanie arrived on 21 February 1956. She was born to parents Mel and his first wife Florence Baum who tied the knot in 1953.
Stefanie has kept away from the limelight but Brooks proudly informed The New Yorker in 1978 that she was taking film courses at NYU and has since worked in the industry.
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Nicky is an experienced writer and producer, and has worked with his father on 2016 feature ‘Sam’
Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Brooks, 68
Nicholas Brooks, known as Nicky, was the second child born to Mel and Florence on 13 December 1957. Like his elder sister and famous father, he works in the entertainment industry, with a role in 1971’s Who Says I Can’t Ride a Rainbow! though he has since focused on writing and production work.
Of course, having a father with years of experience in the industry isn’t an opportunity to be missed. The talented father and son duo collaborated on Sam (2016), with Nicky writing the screenplay and Mel acting as executive producer, according to Variety. He has also produced a few short films, like Beautiful and Confession on Pleasant Street.
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Eddie Brooks is the third child of Mel Brooks and Florence Baum
Edward ‘Eddie’ Brooks, 66
Edward Brooks, regularly shortened to Eddie, is the third and final child from Mel Brooks’ first marriage to Florence Baum. He was born on 24 May 1959 and had a young cameo role in 1970’s Where’s Poppa? which was directed by Carl Reiner, a friend of his father Mel.
In 1978, The New Yorker noted Eddie was studying music. Eddie and his wife Sarah share daughter Samantha who has appeared with her grandfather and interviewed him in November 2022.
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Max Brooks is the youngest of Mel Brooks’ four children and the only child shared with his late wife Anne Bancroft
Maximillian ‘Max’ Brooks, 53
Born on 22 May 1972, Maximillian Michael Brooks, known as Max, is the only child of Mel Brooks and his second wife Anne Bancroft. Like his siblings, Max has pursued a creative career and acted in the ’90s with roles in Melrose Place, 7th Heaven and Roseanne.
He’s also worked behind the scenes as a writer on SNL between 2001 and 2003, and penned World War Z which became a hit movie in 2013 starring Brad Pitt.
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Mel Brooks was married twice, and remained married to his second wife Anne for 40 years
Personal life
Mel Brooks has been married twice, welcoming three children with his first wife Florence Baum and one child with his second wife Anne Bancroft. He and Florence tied the knot in 1954, separating 9 years later in 1962.
He remarried in 1964, saying ‘I do’ to American actress Anne Bancroft and they remained together until Anne’s death in 2005.
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Mel Brooks is still active in filming today, with regular voice acting roles, cameo appearances and children’s TV credits
Where is he now?
Mel Brooks, born Melvin James Brooks, is a stalwart in the world of acting, filmmaking and a beloved comedic figure. The Spaceballs director is still working today, with a sequel to the Star Wars spoofed planned to release in 2027.
His recent projects include voice work in The Land of Sometimes (2026), 2025 short Flower of the Dawn and cameoed as himself on Only Murders in the Building.
