James L. Brooks

Brooks in 2010, photo by kathclick/www.bigstockphoto.com/

Birth Name: James Lawrence Brooks

Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: May 9, 1940

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

James L. Brooks is an American television and film director, producer, and screenwriter. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for Terms of Endearment (1983). He also directed the films Broadcast News, I’ll Do Anything, As Good as It Gets, Spanglish, and How Do You Know, and also wrote all of the above. He co-developed The Simpsons, alongside Matt Groening and Sam Simon.

James is the son of Dorothy, who sold children’s clothes, and Edward Brooks (originally Bernstein), a furniture salesperson. His father left while his mother was pregnant; he was raised by his mother in North Bergen, New Jersey. James’ grandparents were all Russian Jewish immigrants.

James has a daughter with his former wife Marianne Morrissey; and three children with his former wife Holly Holmberg.

James’ maternal grandfather was surnamed Sheinheit.

Sources: James L. Brooks on the 1940 U.S. Census – http://www.familysearch.org

James’ parents on the 1930 U.S. Census – http://www.familysearch.org