I missed posting this yesterday, but a milestone this massive deserves to be celebrated every single day. On Sunday, June 28, 2026, the absolute cinematic and comedic genius Mel Brooks officially turned 100 years old.
Born Melvin Kaminsky in Brooklyn, New York, back in 1926, he may have changed his name decades ago to break into show business, but a century later, he is still kicking, still creating, and still making the entire world laugh. In fact, the American Film Institute (AFI) just honored his centennial by officially reorganizing their “100 Best Comedies of All Time” list, moving his 1974 masterpiece Blazing Saddles up to the coveted #1 spot as the funniest movie ever made!
Brooks has created some of my absolute favorite comedies of all time—timeless parodies like Spaceballs, Blazing Saddles, History of the World, Part I, and Young Frankenstein. And the best part? He isn’t stopping. He recently wrapped production on Spaceballs: The New One, the highly anticipated, decades-in-the-making sequel to his 1987 sci-fi spoof classic, which is locked in to hit theaters in April 2027.
Brooks has often been quoted on just how much he deeply loves the craft of making people smile. From his early days performing in the legendary Borscht Belt to Sid Caesar hiring him as a writer on Your Show of Shows, to bringing the “2,000 Year Old Man” to life alongside Carl Reiner, and throughout his countless television appearances, Mel has spent over seven decades shaping American humor.
Happy belated birthday, Mel! Thank you for the endless laughs, and here is to keeping the Schwartz alive for a hundred more.
