At first glance, Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft seemed like an unlikely pair. "She was tall and striking, while he often joked about being short and homely," explains Patrick McGillgan, author of the new biography Mel Brooks: Funny Man. In an exclusive interview with Closer Weekly, McGillgan shares, "Their differences extended beyond physical appearance to their ethnic backgrounds, with Mel being Jewish and Anne Italian." Yet, beneath these contrasts lay a deep connection that would last a lifetime.
Despite their differences, Anne had a great sense of humor about their union. As she once quipped, "When Mel told his Jewish mother he was marrying an Italian girl, she said, 'Bring her over! I’ll be in the kitchen — with my head in the oven.'” This lightheartedness masked a serious, enduring romance that became one of Hollywood's most celebrated love stories.
How Their Love Blossomed
Before finding each other, both Mel and Anne had experienced the heartache of failed first marriages. Mel's union with showgirl Florence Baum ended due to his relentless drive to succeed and a notorious affair with chanteuse Eartha Kitt. Anne, too, had parted ways with her first husband, lawyer Martin May. But when Mel introduced himself to Anne during her guest appearance on The Perry Como Show in 1961, sparks flew. "He pursued her relentlessly, and they clicked instantly," says McGilligan. Anne found Mel charming, intelligent, and hilarious, while Mel admired her acting talent and beauty.
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