Widower Mel Brooks, 96, Is Still 'A Ball of Fire' & Gives Wise Dating Tips to Beloved Granddaughter

Mel Brooks is one of the long-standing entertainers in Hollywood with a career spanning seven decades. The comedian has won several awards but is most proud of his marriage with his late wife, Anna Bancroft. However, the 96-year-old is as sharp as ever, and he gives his granddaughter great dating advice.

Mel Brooks is a renowned actor, comedian, and filmmaker with a recording-breaking career spanning over seven decades.

Brooks has won an Oscar, four Emmys, three Grammys, and three Tonys, but despite all the accolades under his name, he's most proud of his four-decade marriage with his wife, Anne Bancroft.

The comedian has written and directed several renowned films like, "The Producers," "Blazing Saddles," "Young Frankenstein" and "Spaceballs."

However, Brooks credits his wife for his success. He holds on to one, saying Bancroft consistently reiterated, "'Follow your heart. It will be a good adventure. What an adventure life turned out to be!" Brooks remembered.

The 96-year-old wrote a memoir, "All About Me," which discusses his upbringing in Brooklyn, a career in Hollywood, and his marriage.

Unfortunately, Bancroft died in 2005, and the actor has had to adjust to continuing his life with his beloved wife. He shared this transition in his memoir and wrote, "Living this life without her is not easy."

Brooks misses the amazing spaghetti dishes she made and the great kisses they shared. Although the actor proudly speaks about his published memoir, he confessed that he had to be pushed to get it done.

His son Max was his voice of reason. The actor said his son asked him if he would sit around and not take the pandemic as an opportunity to write his story.

Still, Brooks was skeptical and told Max it was a lot of work, but his son did not give up. He told Brooks that if he wrote the stories he told him as a child, he would end up with one fat book.

However, Max only wanted to push his father because he knew there was still much the world needed to know about him. He said the 96-year-old was "still a ball of fire" and had not lost his dedication to his art.

That commitment to finishing a project has been one of the greatest mantras of the Brooks family. Therefore, when it comes to their arctic expressions, Max said his father never wanted to be careful or safe or base it on the acceptance of other people.

Why Has Mel Never Had Another Woman after Anne's Death?

Brooks and Bancroft were considered one of the Hollywood couples with the best love story. Firstly, people thought they were an unusual pair.

Brooks was a short, upcoming comedian and actor with a Brooklyn accent, and Bancroft was a beautiful actress who had already built a successful career in her portrayal of "Mrs. Robinsons" in the film, "The Graduate."

The couple met on the "The Perry Como Show" set, and Bancroft was already impressed by his taxi whistle. Through their instant connection, they realized all the other things they had in common, like baseball, foreign movies, and their love for Chinese food.

But when Brooks learned about something Bancroft enjoyed, like opera, he would also try to find interest in it. In fact, Brooks said he had embodied his wife's love for the Catholic church so much that he would randomly do the holly cross.

Another part he appreciated about his union was how he and his wife never made each other uncomfortable about their Hollywood status.

Brooks recalled his fear of courting successful actresses because he always felt out of their league. When he dated Bancroft, she was already a two-time Tony award-winning actress, but their love was beyond their accolades.

"The Producers" star looked back at his dating days with his wife when he was still broke. Each time they went out for dinner, Bancroft would hand him over $20 bills to make it seem like he was the one that paid.

He remembered an instance where he told the waiter to keep the change, and Bancroft jokingly told him that he had to be careful with his tips as long as she was paying.

But they were married for 40 years, and till Bancroft's last days, the couple always ensured their marriage was still enjoyable. Brooks' wife even expressed that she still got excited whenever she heard him unlock the door.

Bancroft died in 2005 from uterine cancer. However, Brooks never dated again after her death, and he had a simple reason for it, "Once you are married to Anne Bancroft, others don't seem to be appealing," said the director. 

The actor is forever grateful for how Bancroft supported him when he was still starting his career and for her constant faith in him until his breakthrough role in "Get Smart" in the 1960s.

What Dating Tips Mel Gives to His Beloved Granddaughter in His Late 90S?

Brooks and his granddaughter Samantha filmed a conversation where they discussed everything about their relationship, the actor's career, and dating tips.

The first topic of discussion was the grandfather and grandaughter relationship. While the two acknowledged they were related, Samantha said they were also good friends.

Therefore, she wanted to know if she was doing their friendship justice and asked the director if she called enough. Brooks said he would like more calls but wished they stayed close because meeting in person would be better.

Brooks lives in Los Angeles, and his grandaughter in New York, but Samantha also mentioned that the actor usually ended their phone calls by asking her to call in a few weeks.

So, she wanted clarification on many weeks are considered long enough for her check-up on him again. Brooks said he only wishes for up to two weeks without a call from his granddaughter.

Samantha also asked her grandfather for dating advice. Brooks told her to look for a fascinating mind, not just physical attraction. The Oscar-winning reasoned that someone with an adventurous sense and creativity would be a better partner.

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