Mel Brooks Awarded The British Film Institute’s Highest Honor
The British Film Institute didn’t want to be the only entertainment organization that hasn’t given Mel Brooks an award. The BBC reports that Brooks, who has already won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony and American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award, is adding a BFI Fellowship to his list of honors. The Fellowship is the highest honor the BFI awards.
The comedy legend talked about winning the BFI Fellowship. Mel Brooks said, “When I was informed that I had been chosen, I was surprised and delighted. Not many Americans have been offered this prestigious award…and for good reason.”
Chairman of the British Film Institute Greg Dyke, said, “His brilliant wit and satire have continued to surprise and delight and, sometimes, astonish, as he delights in flouting convention, taking comedy to areas once held taboo. Mel’s irrepressible energy and dazzling originality have made the world a much funnier place.”
Other Americans that have be awarded the BFI Fellowship include Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Robert Wise, Thelma Schoonmaker, Robert Altman, Al Pacino, Harvey and Bob Weinstein and Martin Scorsese.
Mel Brooks will perform in his first UK solo show, “Mel Brooks Live in London” at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Sunday.
