Mel Brooks' son says director was 'intolerable' during early career

Entertainment Weekly • January 16, 2026 • entertainment

Key Points:

The documentary "Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!" premieres on HBO on Jan. 22, exploring the legendary comedian's rise to fame and personal struggles before his breakthrough.
Early in his career, Brooks faced financial hardship and anxiety, leading to a difficult marriage with Florence Baum, who stopped working to support his career ambitions.
Brooks candidly admits his early career frustrations made him volatile and difficult to live with, contributing to the couple's 1962 divorce.
His career revived with the success of the 2000 Year Old Man comedy album and later iconic films like The Producers, for which he won an Oscar, and multiple Tony Awards for the Broadway adaptation.
The film also highlights Brooks' lifelong friendship with Carl Re