Mel Brooks can add another accolade to his resume, with the legendary comedian and director receiving an honorary Oscar at the 14th Governors Awards.
“This is beautiful,” Brooks, 97, began his speech after hosts Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick serenaded him with songs from his storied career. “I have to tell you, this means a lot to me. It really does.”
Brooks vowed never to sell his second Oscar, joking to the crowd that he had sold his first. In 1968, Brooks won Best Original Screenplay for Producers. “I miss her so much,” he blurted out. “I shouldn’t have sold it.”
The Young Frankenstein the director recalled how it “meant a lot” to get his place growing up as the youngest of four boys. “They finally saw me. It’s the same thing in show business,” Brooks said. “If your fellow writers, directors, actors love you and appreciate your work, that means a lot. It means a lot.”
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Mel Brooks (right) receives his honorary Oscar from Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.
Kevin Winter/Getty
“When your peers appreciate your work and salute you with this golden statue, it means a lot,” the lively legend continued, calling the award “awesome.”
“I’m not going to sell this. I swear to God,” Brooks promised before leaving the stage with a smile and a wave.
Before his acceptance speech, Lane and Broderick, who starred in Brooks’ Producers The Tony-winning musical on Broadway and in the 2005 film broke into songs like The The King of Broadway in front of a crowd that included honorary Oscar winner Angela Bassett, Bradley Cooper, Margot Robbie and Robert Downey Jr.
“Ladies and gentlemen, whatever you want, he can do it!” Lane sang. Broderick interjected, “Every gag that makes you giggle probably started with Mel.”
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On June 26, 2023, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed that Brooks, along with Bassett and film editor Carol Littleton, would receive the award at a ceremony in November for their contributions to the industry.
“First of all, I’m very lucky to still be alive!” Brooks told PEOPLE in a statement following the award announcement. “But secondly, it’s so nice to be recognized by my colleagues at the Academy more than 50 years after my last Oscar,”
He added: “I had a choice a long time ago: I got an offer to work as a trainee accountant or as a coffee runner in show business. I’m still glad I chose coffee.”
Brooks is one of 23 individuals to win an EGOT — the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. Brooks won two more Oscars in 1975 for Best Adapted Screenplay for Young Frankenstein and Best Original Song for Blazing Saddles.
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Mel Brooks on January 9th.
ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty
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“Mel Brooks lights up our hearts with his humor, and his legacy has left a lasting impact on every aspect of entertainment,” Academy President Janet Yang said in a statement.
The honorary award, voted on by the Academy’s Board of Directors, “is given in honor of outstanding distinction in life’s work, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture art and science, or for outstanding service to the Academy.”
Past winners of the award include Samuel L. Jackson, Donald Sutherland, Jackie Chan and Cicely Tyson.
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