Mel Brooks developing "The Producers" and "Young Frankenstein" for the musical theater, saying of an early meeting with her: "From that day, until her death…we were glued together." Regarding religion, Brooks stated, "I'm rather secular. I'm basically Jewish. But I think I'm Jewish not because of the Jewish religion at all. I think it's the relationship with the people and the pride I have. The tribe surviving so many misfortunes, and being so brave and contributing so much knowledge to the world and showing courage." Brooks' great-nephew from his brother Lenny, Todd Kaminsky, is a New York state senator for state senate
Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks at the Cannes Film Festival Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks at the Cannes Film Festival Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks at the Cannes Film Festival is a live 1963 comedy album by the American comedians Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks, recorded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was the third album released by the pair, and their last recording for 12 years. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Performance at the 6th Annual Grammy Awards in 1964; it lost to Allan Sherman's song "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (A Letter from Camp)". Characters on the album include the Italian film director "Federico