Mel Brooks to receive an Honorary Oscar

Mel Brooks has of course had a long and varied career over the last 97 years. From starting out as a writer on Your Show of Shows to being the 2000 Year-Old Man alongside Carl Reiner to making films like The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, Spaceballs, Robin Hood Men in Tights, and The Twelve Chairs, he has gotten pretty much every accomplishment you can think of. Now, he can add an Honorary Oscar to the list.

Yesterday, Brooks was named alongside Angela Bassett to receive the distinction from the Academy in a ceremony in November. The award was created “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or outstanding service to the Academy.”

“The Academy’s Board of Governors is thrilled to honor four trailblazers who have transformed the film industry and inspired generations of filmmakers and movie fans,” said Academy President Janet Yang. “Across her decades-long career, Angela Bassett has continued to deliver transcendent performances that set new standards in acting. Mel Brooks lights up our hearts with his humor, and his legacy has made a lasting impact on every facet of entertainment. Carol Littleton’s career in film editing serves as a model for those who come after her. A pillar of the independent film community, Michelle Satter has played a vital role in the careers of countless filmmakers around the world.”

This is the second Oscar for Mel Brooks, who previously won for the screenplay of The Producers in 1968.