Mel Brooks is, it appears, demanding to have another birthday, and since I guess at least 365 days have passed, who are we to begrudge him, right?
The legendary comedian turns 99 this time around the sun (June 28), so I can't let more time pass us by without mentioning it. You see, as I was growing up, the movies this man makes were on regular rotation on our television set - whether on one of the cable stations or a VHS cassette tape (ask a parent or grandparent). "Blazing Saddles" is probably one of the movies I have seen the most times in my life, alongside "Young Frankenstein" and "Spaceballs."
Rest assured - as long as we have the chance to celebrate him, I'm going to write about Brooks. And yes, if he has 99 problems, one of them isn't having a birthday. (One aside, before we get started in earnest: Readers can look forward to a reboot (so to speak) of more VIP culture stories on movies from me in the near future.)
Now, here's part of what I wrote in 2024, when he was only 98 (headline: "To Celebrate Mel Brooks' 98th Birthday, Let's Look at His 98 Best Movies"):
I count myself as one of the lucky members of Gen X who grew up with parents who shared their immense love of movies, especially comedies and musicals. And Mel Brooks' films were some of my late dad's favorites, with "The Producers" among his top movies ever. (It might be the perfect marriage of the two genres.)
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[From my top five list of Mel Brooks films] 2. "Young Frankenstein" (1974)
The trailer, hilariously provided with a voiceover by Mel Brooks talking about himself in third-person, is better than anything I could write about it. Flawless. Also, check out this interview with the late Gene Wilder, in which he reveals (at 2:41) that the only argument he and Brook ever had was over a scene in this movie. Pretty remarkable relationship, right?
Anyway, in 2025, we've been made aware that there's a new cinematic treat from the filmmaker coming to the silver screen in a couple years' time, as my colleague Katie Jerkovich wrote in June:
Legendary director Mel Brooks made a huge announcement on Thursday about the highly anticipated sequel "Spaceballs 2" and his part in the "Star Wars" parody and cult classic.
In a teaser clip he posted on X, the 98-year-old actor wrote, "I told you we'd be back." The post has since gone viral, with more than 4 million views and counting.
...
The closing message on the screen read, "The Schwartz awakens in 2027," revealing when it will be in theaters.
In case you missed it here's the post/teaser by Brooks:
I told you we’d be back pic.twitter.com/RnoklPqBX6
— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) June 12, 2025
RELATED: ‘May The Schwartz Be With You’: Mel Brooks Makes Huge Announcement About Highly Anticipated Sequel
As I was researching this tribute, I tripped across something wonderful by accident. The comedy genius rarely shares tidbits about his life on social media (or to be honest, whoever posts for the nonagenarian). It says so much about him and what deems important in life what he does post -- about those who have been either actors or actresses in his oeuvre and/or close friends/accomplices along the comedy highway. Before that post on "Space Balls 2," as a quick browse of his X account reveals, the posts are in memoriam messages about Cloris Leachman (2021), Gene Wilder (2016), and one of his stand-up partners in crime, the great Carl Reiner. Brooks called him a "giant."
— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) June 30, 2020
But there was one personal message I really love-- and to no one's surprise, it's a funny one about his 96th birthday.
The funnyman wrote in gratitude to fans: "Thanks for all the birthday greetings! To tell the truth, I don’t feel like 96 at all—I feel a lot more like 95."
How awesome is that.
To include one more relevant in memoriam from Brooks... there was also this sweet farewell to America's Sweetheart, who passed away at 99 just days from her centenary birthday in January 2022.
Sad news. No more Betty White. Too bad we couldn’t get another ten years of her always warm, gracious, and witty personality. She was one of a kind!
— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) December 31, 2021
"Sad news. No more Betty White," he wrote. "Too bad we couldn’t get another ten years of her always warm, gracious, and witty personality. She was one of a kind!"
So are you, Mel. So are you. Happy birthday, "Yogurt"!
