Albert Lawrence Einstein (born July 22, 1947), known professionally as Albert Brooks, is an American actor and filmmaker. 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 action drama 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). His voice acting credits include Marlin in Finding Nemo (2003) and Finding Dory (2016), Tiberius in The Secret Life of Pets (2016), and several one-time characters in The Simpsons, including Hank Scorpio in "You Only Move Twice" (1996) and Russ Cargill in The Simpsons Movie (2007). Description above from the Wikipedia article Albert Brooks, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
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Biography from TMDB.
- July 22, 1947 (79)
- Beverly Hills, California, USA
- Actor, writer and director
- 37 on MovieCove · 51 credits in all
What are Albert Brooks' films like?
Across their 32 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 6 · Wry 3 · Earnest 23
Light 25 · Serious 2 · Dark 5
A split, not a type: Grounded 15 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 5
A split, not a type: Gentle 16 · Charged 12 · Intense 4
A split, not a type: Steady 20 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 4
Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 14 · Funny 12
A split, not a type: Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 2
Casual 20 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 2
Easy watch 20 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 4
Resolved 23 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 2
Roles they play
Usually the Hero: 7 of 23 analyzed roles.
Show the 23 rolesHide the roles
- Shadowas Albert Brooks in Real Life (1979)
- Heraldas Yale Goodman in Private Benjamin (1980)
- Shapeshifteras Robert Cole in Modern Romance (1981)
- Mentoras Norman Robbins in Unfaithfully Yours (1984)
- Heroas David Howard in Lost in America (1985)
- Tricksteras David Howard in Lost in America (1985)
- Allyas Aaron Altman in Broadcast News (1987)
- Heroas Daniel Miller in Defending Your Life (1991)
- Shadowas Burke Adler in I'll Do Anything (1994)
- Mentoras Al Percolo in The Scout (1994)
- Heroas John Henderson in Mother (1996)
- Threshold guardianas Dr. Butz in Critical Care (1997)
- Heroas Steven Phillips in The Muse (1999)
- Mentoras Randall in My First Mister (2001)
- Heroas Marlin in Finding Nemo (2003)
- Heroas Jerry Peyser in The In-Laws (2003)
- Threshold guardianas Jerry Peyser in The In-Laws (2003)
- Heroas Albert Brooks in Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005)
- Shadowas Russ Cargill in The Simpsons Movie (2007)
- Threshold guardianas Bernie Rose in Drive (2011)
- Shapeshifteras Andrew Walsh in A Most Violent Year (2014)
- Mentoras Dr. Cyril Wecht in Concussion (2015)
- Allyas Tiberius in The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
Moods and endings
- Happy13
- Bittersweet12
- Ambiguous6
- Cyclical1
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Albert Brooks' films?
As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Disney+ (8).
Subscription and free streaming for Albert Brooks' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
51 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 19 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Oswald (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)
Ella McCay(2025)
Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
I Love You, Daddy(2017)
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
The Secret Life of Pets(2016)
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
Finding Dory(2016)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Concussion(2015)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
The Little Prince(2015)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
A Most Violent Year(2014)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
This Is 40(2012)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Drive(2011)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
The Pixar Story(2007)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
The Simpsons Movie(2007)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
Weeds(2005)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
Exploring the Reef (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
Finding Nemo(2003)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
The In-Laws(2003)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
My First Mister(2001)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
The Muse(1999)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Doctor Dolittle(1998)
Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
Out of Sight(1998)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Critical Care(1997)
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Mother(1996)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
The Scout(1994)
Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
I'll Do Anything(1994)
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
Defending Your Life(1991)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
The Simpsons(1989)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
Broadcast News(1987)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
Lost in America(1985)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Unfaithfully Yours(1984)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
Terms of Endearment(1983)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
Twilight Zone: The Movie(1983)
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
Modern Romance(1981)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
Private Benjamin(1980)
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
Real Life(1979)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Taxi Driver(1976)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Audience Research (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Sick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Upcoming Season (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Open Heart Surgery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Home Movies & Failed Candid-Camera Stunts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Saturday Night Live(1975)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
The Impossible Truth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Albert Brooks' Famous School for Comedians (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)
The New Dick Van Dyke Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
The Odd Couple(1970)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows
Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Hot Wheels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Loving Dory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Career shape
Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 51 titles, 49 of them dated from 1969 to 2025; peak year 2002.
Film career
Peak 2002 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 13 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.
- 1976Screen debut· Taxi Driver
- 1979First top-billed film· Real Life
- 1987Oscar nomination· Broadcast News
- 2003Career best· Finding Nemo
- 2005Career best· Weeds
- 2011Golden Globe nomination· Drive
Billing
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.
Awards
4 major nominations and no wins, 1988–2012.
- Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
+2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
- Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor
- Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Male
- Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.
How do Albert Brooks' films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 78th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 32 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 78th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up22
- 50th to 74th5
- 25th to 49th7
- Below 25th3
Shape of the crowd
19 of their 37 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved7
- Crowd Pleaser19
- Broadly Agreed5
- Mixed6
Reviewers score the acting 76/100 in their films, across 29 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 48. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Is Albert Brooks' work okay for kids?
Across up to 16 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.
Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.
Who does Albert Brooks work with?
People who share at least 2 of Albert Brooks' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; James L. Brooks shares the most, 6.
Directors
- James L. BrooksShared titles: Ella McCay (2025), The Simpsons Movie (2007), I'll Do Anything (1994), Broadcast News (1987), Modern Romance (1981), Real Life (1979)See all 6 shared titles with James L. Brooks
- Andrew StantonShared titles: Finding Dory (2016), Finding Nemo (2003)See all 2 shared titles with Andrew Stanton
- Howard ZieffShared titles: Unfaithfully Yours (1984), Private Benjamin (1980)See all 2 shared titles with Howard Zieff
Writers
- Monica Mcgowan JohnsonShared titles: The Muse (1999), Mother (1996), The Scout (1994), Lost in America (1985), Modern Romance (1981), Real Life (1979)See all 6 shared titles with Monica Mcgowan Johnson
- Andrew BergmanShared titles: The In-Laws (2003), The Scout (1994)See all 2 shared titles with Andrew Bergman
Actors
- Jodie FosterShared titles: Breakdown: 1975 (2025), Taxi Driver (1976)See all 2 shared titles with Jodie Foster
- Michael DouglasShared titles: Rob Reiner: Scenes from a Life (2025), The In-Laws (2003)See all 2 shared titles with Michael Douglas
- Rob ReinerShared titles: Rob Reiner: Scenes from a Life (2025), Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023)See all 2 shared titles with Rob Reiner
- Louis C.K.Shared titles: I Love You, Daddy (2017), The Secret Life of Pets (2016)See all 2 shared titles with Louis C.K.
Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Bill ContiShared titles: The Scout (1994), Broadcast News (1987), Unfaithfully Yours (1984), Private Benjamin (1980)See all 4 shared titles with Bill Conti
- David FinferShared titles: Defending Your Life (1991), Lost in America (1985), Modern Romance (1981), Real Life (1979)See all 4 shared titles with David Finfer
- Hans ZimmerShared titles: The Little Prince (2015), The Simpsons Movie (2007), I'll Do Anything (1994)See all 3 shared titles with Hans Zimmer
- Eric SaarinenShared titles: Lost in America (1985), Modern Romance (1981), Real Life (1979)See all 3 shared titles with Eric Saarinen
Producers
- Herb NanasShared titles: Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005), The Muse (1999), Mother (1996), The Scout (1994), Defending Your Life (1991), Lost in America (1985)See all 6 shared titles with Herb Nanas
- Richard SakaiShared titles: Ella McCay (2025), The Simpsons Movie (2007)See all 2 shared titles with Richard Sakai
- Jeffrey StottShared titles: Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023), Drive (2011)See all 2 shared titles with Jeffrey Stott
- John LasseterShared titles: Finding Dory (2016), Finding Nemo (2003)See all 2 shared titles with John Lasseter
Mixed roles
- Martin ScorseseShared titles: Breakdown: 1975 (2025), Taxi Driver (1976)See all 2 shared titles with Martin Scorsese
- Steven SpielbergShared titles: Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023), Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)See all 2 shared titles with Steven Spielberg
- Harry ShearerShared titles: The Simpsons Movie (2007), Real Life (1979)See all 2 shared titles with Harry Shearer
- Elmore LeonardShared titles: Inside 'Out of Sight' (1998), Out of Sight (1998)See all 2 shared titles with Elmore Leonard
