James L. Brooks

Characters played by James L. Brooks

David — Modern Romance (1981)

David is the director who invites Robert and Mary to his party. Robert attends despite failing to decline the invitation, but spends much of the event distracted by Mary's conversations with other male guests. The party intensifies Robert's insecurity and contributes to his effort to test Mary's commitment.

Career Overview

James L. Brooks has 104 screen credits in a career dating back to 1960. Their work spans 4 cinematic universes — most prominently Simpsons Crossover-Specials with 8 titles. Signature works include The Simpsons, Spanglish, Taxi. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Production
Gender: male
Known Credits: 104
Birth Date: 1940-05-09
Birth Place: North Bergen, New Jersey, USA

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 4 universes

Simpsons Crossover-Specials (8 titles)
The Simpsons Movie Collection (2 titles)
Terms of Endearment Collection (1 titles)
Taxi Film Series (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

Nancy Cartwright (4 collaborations)
Dan Castellaneta (3 collaborations)
Julie Kavner (3 collaborations)
Yeardley Smith (3 collaborations)
Hank Azaria (3 collaborations)
Harry Shearer (3 collaborations)
Phil Rosenthal (2 collaborations)
Russi Taylor (2 collaborations)
Tress MacNeille (2 collaborations)
Adam Sandler (1 collaborations)

Credits

production (43 credits)
- The New Simpsons Movie
  producer
  
  production
  
  2027
- Yellow Mirror
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2026
- Simpsley
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2026
- Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2026
- Ella McCay
  producer
  
  production
  
  2025
- The Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2024
- The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
  producer
  
  production
  
  2024
- May the 12th Be with You
  producer
  
  production
  
  2024
- Maggie Simpson in "Rogue Not Quite One"
  producer
  
  production
  
  2023
- Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
  producer
  
  production
  
  2023
- Welcome to the Club
  producer
  
  production
  
  2022
- When Billie Met Lisa
  producer
  
  production
  
  2022
- The Simpsons in Plusaversary
  producer
  
  production
  
  2021
- The Simpsons: A Serious Flanders
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2021
- The Simpsons | Balenciaga
  producer
  
  production
  
  2021
- The Good, the Bart, and the Loki
  producer
  
  production
  
  2021
- Maggie Simpson in "The Force Awakens from Its Nap"
  producer
  
  production
  
  2021
- Maggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny"
  producer
  
  production
  
  2020
- Icebox
  producer
  
  production
  
  2018
- The Edge of Seventeen
  producer
  
  production
  
  2016
- Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare"
  producer
  
  production
  
  2012
- How Do You Know
  producer
  
  production
  
  2010
- The Simpsons Movie
  producer
  
  production
  
  2007
- Spanglish
  producer
  
  production
  
  2004
- Riding in Cars with Boys
  producer
  
  production
  
  2001
- As Good as It Gets
  producer
  
  production
  
  1997
- Jerry Maguire
  producer
  
  production
  
  1996
- Bottle Rocket
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1996
- I'll Do Anything
  producer
  
  production
  
  1994
- The Critic
  producer
  
  production
  
  - I Can't Believe It's a Clip Show (1995) ... producer production
  
  - Dukerella (1995) ... producer production
  
  - Frankie and Ellie Get Lost (1995) ... producer production
  
  - Sherman of Arabia (1995) ... producer production
  
  - All the Duke's Men (1995) ... producer production
  
  1994
- The Best of the Tracey Ullman Show
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1990
- The Simpsons
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  - Lenny Goes Squiggy (2027) ... executive producer production
  
  - Billionaire on the Bayou (2027) ... executive producer production
  
  - Lock, Stock and One Stupid Narrator (2026) ... executive producer production
  
  - The Offendables (2026) ... executive producer production
  
  - Bog (2026) ... executive producer production
  
  1989
- The Simpsons: Family Therapy
  producer
  
  production
  
  1989
- The War of the Roses
  producer
  
  production
  
  1989
- Say Anything...
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1989
- Big
  producer
  
  production
  
  1988
- Broadcast News
  producer
  
  production
  
  1987
- Terms of Endearment
  producer
  
  production
  
  1983
- Starting Over
  producer
  
  production
  
  1979
- Taxi
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  - Simka's Monthlies (1983) ... executive producer production
  
  - A Grand Gesture (1983) ... executive producer production
  
  - Jim's Mario's (1983) ... executive producer production
  
  - Tony's Baby (1983) ... executive producer production
  
  - Arnie Meets the Kids (1983) ... executive producer production
  
  1978
- Cindy
  producer
  
  production
  
  1978
- Lou Grant
  
  - Charlie (1982) ... producer production
  
  - Victims (1982) ... producer production
  
  - Beachhead (1982) ... producer production
  
  - Suspect (1982) ... producer production
  
  - Unthinkable (1982) ... producer production
  
  1977
- Thursday's Game
  producer
  
  production
  
  1974
actors (25 credits)
- The Process
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Paddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- Thank You Very Much
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- 2024 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2024
- Albert Brooks: Defending My Life
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2023
- Being Mary Tyler Moore
  Self (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2023
- Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- Alan Pakula: Going for Truth
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- Harry Benson: Shoot First
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- Mike Nichols: An American Master
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- Misery Loves Comedy
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- Hans Zimmer: The Sound of Hollywood
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- James L. Brooks: A Singular Voice
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special - In 3D! On Ice!
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2010
- The Making of 'Bottle Rocket'
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- Dreams on Spec
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- The Simpsons: America's First Family
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2000
- The Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their Craft
  himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1998
- The Simpsons
  
  - A Star is Born Again (2003) ... James L. Brooks (voice) actor actors
  
  1989
- Lost in America
  Party Guest (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1985
- Modern Romance
  David
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1981
- Real Life
  Driving Evaluator
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1979
- Audience Research
  Paul Reynold
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1976
- Saturday Night Live
  
  - Elliott Gould with Anne Murray (1976) ... Paul Reynolds (uncredited) actor actors
  
  1975
writing (22 credits)
- Ella McCay
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2025
- The Simpsons: A Serious Flanders
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2021
- Maggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny"
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2020
- Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare"
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2012
- How Do You Know
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2010
- The Simpsons Movie
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  2007
- Spanglish
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2004
- The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2003
- The Simpsons: Too Hot For TV
  scenario writer
  
  writing
  
  1999
- As Good as It Gets
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1997
- I'll Do Anything
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1994
- The Simpsons
  
  - Them, Robot (2012) ... writer writing
  
  - How I Wet Your Mother (2012) ... writer writing
  
  - Exit Through the Kwik-E-Mart (2012) ... writer writing
  
  - At Long Last Leave (2012) ... writer writing
  
  - Moe Goes from Rags to Riches (2012) ... writer writing
  
  1989
- Broadcast News
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1987
- Terms of Endearment
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1983
- Carlton Your Doorman
  characters
  
  writing
  
  1980
- Starting Over
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1979
- Cindy
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1978
- Taxi
  
  - Like Father, Like Daughter (1978) ... writer writing
  
  1978
- Lou Grant
  writer
  
  writing
  
  - Charlie (1982) ... writer writing
  
  - Victims (1982) ... writer writing
  
  - Beachhead (1982) ... writer writing
  
  - Suspect (1982) ... writer writing
  
  - Unthinkable (1982) ... writer writing
  
  1977
- Thursday's Game
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1974
- That Girl
  
  - Rain, Snow and Rice (1967) ... writer writing
  
  1966
- The Andy Griffith Show
  
  - Emmett's Brother-In-Law (1968) ... writer writing
  
  - The Mayberry Chef (1968) ... writer writing
  
  1960
directing (7 credits)
- Ella McCay
  director
  
  directing
  
  2025
- How Do You Know
  director
  
  directing
  
  2010
- Spanglish
  director
  
  directing
  
  2004
- As Good as It Gets
  director
  
  directing
  
  1997
- I'll Do Anything
  director
  
  directing
  
  1994
- Broadcast News
  director
  
  directing
  
  1987
- Terms of Endearment
  director
  
  directing
  
  1983
crew (5 credits)
- Ride
  thanks
  
  crew
  
  2014
- 50/50
  thanks
  
  crew
  
  2011
- A Terrifying Message from Al Gore
  thanks
  
  crew
  
  2007
- My Own Private Idaho
  thanks
  
  crew
  
  1991
- Jumpin' Jack Flash
  thanks
  
  crew
  
  1986
creators (2 credits)
- Taxi
  creator
  
  creators
  
  1978
- Lou Grant
  creator
  
  creators
  
  1977