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Hollywood legend Mel Brooks to receive BAFTA’s highest honour

Veteran Hollywood comedian Mel Brooks is to be awarded a BAFTA fellowship during Sunday’s ceremony in London. The 90-year-old is being honoured as “a truly unique and multi-talented film-maker”, BAFTA chief executive Amanda Berry said. Brooks is one of a handful of people to have won an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy and a Tony. His 1968 directorial debut, musical comedy The Producers, won him an Oscar for best original screenplay. In typical fashion, Brooks joked about the BAFTA honour, which had been previously awarded to such greats as Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick. “I am not overwhelmed, but I am definitely whelmed by this singular honour,” he said.

I am not overwhelmed, but I am definitely whelmed by this singular honour

Mel Brooks

In typical fashion, Brooks joked about the BAFTA honour, which had been previously awarded to such greats as Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick. “I am not overwhelmed, but I am definitely whelmed by this singular honour,” he said. Brooks’ decades-long career as director, writer, producer and actor includes Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and the Star Wars spoof Spaceballs. The ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall will be hosted by Stephen Fry. The Duke of Cambridge, who is president of BAFTA, will present Brooks with the award.