Mel Brooks was honored with a well-deserved career achievement award at the recent 84th Annual Peabody Awards event in Los Angeles, which he attended wearing a sharp double-breasted suit over a cream shirt and gray tie. He looked content as he posed for red-carpet photos at Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
The comedy icon showed off his newest prize while taking pictures with his son, Max, and his teenage grandson Henry. He also posed with Billy Crystal, who described Mel’s comedy as “fearless genius and boundary-pushing,” while presenting him with the award.
Mel Brooks gets ready to turn 98
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Mel’s career took off in the ‘50s after serving in the US Army during World War II as a forward artillery observer, a combat engineer, and later a corporal before his discharge. He wrote Sid Caesar’s comedy for The Admiral Broadway Revue, Your Show of Shows, and Caesar’s Hour until he began performing with co-writer Carl Reiner.
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By the ‘80s, Mel was already established with numerous credits and recognitions to his name, his first of four Emmys in 1967, and an Academy Award the following year. With his latest award, Mel is the fourth person in history to achieve PEGOT status— a Peabody, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award — alongside Barbra Streisand, Rita Moreno, and Mike Nichols.
at the “If You’re Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast” Premiere, Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Beverly Hills, CA 05-17-17
Mel looked agile and handsome despite turning 98 in a couple of weeks. The comedy legend has yet to announce his retirement; however, he has revealed in the past that he would keep working for as long as he wants. He has so far maintained good health, which he credits to his good genes, hard work, and luck.
He also enjoys a regular meal of raisin bran and his favorite late-night yogurt snack. Mel has also managed to work through losing his wife, Anne Bancroft, in 2005, noting that life without her has been difficult as he misses her support, great kisses, and spaghetti. The duo married in 1964 and had one son, Max, together. Mel’s first three children, Stefanie, Nicky, and Eddie, are from his first marriage to Florence Baum, which lasted nine years.