Mel Brooks to receive AFI life achievement honor

By Christy Lemire

Associated Press

Published: Friday, Oct. 5 2012 1:15 p.m. MDT

View 2 photos »

FILE - This Nov. 7, 2009 file photo originally released by the Breeders' Cup shows Mel Brooks arriving at the 26th Running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships in Santa Anita, Calif. The American Film Institute announced Friday Oct. 5, 2012 that Brooks will be honored with the 41st AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film. The award will be presented to Brooks at a gala tribute on June 6, 2013 in Los Angeles.

Breeders' Cup, Katy Winn, file, Associated Press

Summary

It'll be springtime for Mel Brooks when the American Film Institute presents him with its highest honor, the Life Achievement Award.

LOS ANGELES — It'll be springtime for Mel Brooks when the American Film Institute presents him with its highest honor, the Life Achievement Award.

The writer and director of comedy classics including "The Producers," ''Blazing Saddles," ''Young Frankenstein" and "History of the World: Part I" will receive the award at a gala tribute next June, AFI announced Friday.

The 86-year-old Brooks is the 41st recipient of the honor, which has gone to Hollywood legends including Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor, Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep and Morgan Freeman. He's one of only 14 people to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award.

The AFI ceremony will air in late June on TNT and Turner Classic Movies.

Online:

http://www.afi.com/

Comments