James L. Brooks is a three-time Academy Award winner and 19-time Emmy Award winner. His television career includes hits such as Taxi, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, Lou Grant, Room 222, The Tracey Ullman Show and the longest-running scripted series in television history, The Simpsons.

Brooks’ film career includes Terms of Endearment, which he wrote, produced and directed, and for which he earned three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Brooks also wrote, produced and directed As Good As It Gets, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Other films include Broadcast News, Starting Over, Say Anything, War of the Roses, Big, Riding in Cars with Boys, Spanglish and How Do You Know. In 2007, Brooks co-wrote and produced The Simpsons Movie.  His most recent film Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret is an upcoming comedy-drama film based on the book by Judy Blume.

He produced the television series The Critic and Phenom; he wrote and produced the television series What About Joan?; and he directed the feature I’ll Do Anything. He also executive-produced the film Bottle Rocket and produced Jerry Maguire.

In June 2013, Brooks was named artistic director of the AFI Conservatory, and in August 2024, he received the prestigious Disney Legends Award.