He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for 1987's "Broadcast News" and was widely praised for his performance as a ruthless Jewish mobster in the 2011 neo-noir film "Drive". Brooks has also played in "Taxi Driver" (1976), "Private Benjamin" (1980), "Unfaithfully Yours" (1984) and "My First Mister" (2001). He has written, directed, and starred in several comedy films, such as "Modern Romance" (1981), "Lost in America" (1985), and "Defending Your Life" (1991). He is also the author of "2030: The Real Story of What Happens to America" (2011).