Mel Brooks, whose lasting friendship with the late Carl Reiner began in 1950, has paid tribute to his “best friend” and Your show of shows co-star. Reiner died Monday at age 98.
“Carl was a giant, incomparable in his contributions to entertainment,” Brooks shared in a Twitter post. “He created comedy gems like The Dick Van Dyke Show, The loutand Where is dad?“
Brooks said they met in 1950 at Sid Caesar’s Your show of shows. “We have been best friends since then,” he added. “I loved him.” It was while working on Your show of shows The couple began crafting one of the most famous comedy routines of all time, “2000 Year Old Man,” where Reiner played a direct television interviewer speaking to a very old man played by Brooks.
“When we were doing the ‘2000 Year Old Man’ together, there was no better straight man in the world,” Brooks wrote in his tribute. “So whether he has written or acted or been your best friend, no one could do better.”
The first album of his bit was released in 1960, and four more albums based on his long-running routine followed. His last LP, 1998 The 2000 year old man in the year 2000, won the Grammy for Spoken Comedy Album. In 1975, her part also served as the basis for an animated comedy special.
“He will be sorely missed,” Brooks concluded in his sincere tribute to Reiner.
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– Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) June 30, 2020
