Albert Brooks Biography

Multi-talented writer, actor, and director Albert Brooks was born with the name Albert Einstein on July 22, 1947, in Los Angeles, California . Growing up, comedy played a large part in Albert's family. His father, Harry Einstein (AKA. Parkyakarkus), was a radio comedian. His brother Bob went on to become satirical stuntman deemed Super Dave Osborne.After graduating high school, which Albert attended along with fellow future entertainers Richard Dreyfuss and Rob Reiner, Albert enrolled in Carnegie Tech for a brief period of time. Albert changed his surname to Brooks before entering the world of standup comedy, where he became known around the standup circuit for his talking mime routine.From 1969 to1970, Albert was a regular on The Dean Martin Show and its 1971 spin-off, The Golddiggers. As Albert's fame grew, he became a regular fixture on late-night shows, making appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, The Merv Griffin Show, and The Hollywood Palace.Albert made his directorial debut with the satirical short, The Famous Comedian's School, which was featured on a 1971 installment of The Great American Dream Machine. By 1975, Albert was recognized with a Grammy for his album A Star Is Bought, which featured guest appearances from Rob Reiner, Linda Ronstadt, and Harry Shearer. Also that year, Brooks started filming sketches for Saturday Night Live; however, his skits were eventually dropped from SNL because they were considered to be inside jokes.In 1976, Albert starred alongside Cybill Shepherd in Taxi Driver. The film's director, Martin Scorsese, gave Albert artistic license to improvise much of his dialogue. Albert played the role of Goldie Hawn's first husband in Private Benjamin (1980), as well as Dudley Moore's manager in Unfaithfully Yours (1984). He also received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of perpetually perspiring journalist Aaron Altman in James L. Brooks's Broadcast News (1987).Brooks's writing/directing credits include the PBS mockumentary, Real Life (1979), Modern Romance (1981), and Lost in America (1985). In 1996, Albert juggled the responsibilities of directing, writing, and starring opposite Debbie Reynolds in Mother. Following that ambitious endeavor, Albert took some time off from directing and writing to act in such films as Out of Sight (1998), but put on his director, screenwriter, and actor hats on once again for The Muse (1999), which also starred screen sirens Andie MacDowell and Sharon Stone.Brooks has been romantically linked to various Hollywood women, including singer Linda Ronstadt and actresses Carrie Fisher, Julie Hagerty, and Kathryn Harrold. He is currently married to artist Kimberly Brooks. In 1998, the couple welcomed the birth of son, Jacob Eli, followed by the birth of their daughter, Claire Elizabeth in 2000.In 2003, Albert lent his voice to the lead clown fish in Pixar's animated aquatic odyssey, Finding Nemo. The film was a hit at the box-office with both kids and adults, and went on to become one of the highest grossing films of all time. Finding Nemo is not the only animated piece on Albert's resume; he has also lent his voice to the animated series The Simpsons several times over the years, always credited as A. Brooks.In 2005, Albert debuted his controversial film Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World, which was eventually dropped by Sony Pictures because of its title. Warner Independent Pictures then purchased the film, allowing it limited release in early 2006. Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World was met with mixed reviews and a low box office turnout. In the film, Brooks plays a filmmaker sent by the government on a tour of Muslim countries to determine cultural differences in comedy.