James Lawrence Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and co-founder of Gracie Films. He co-created the sitcoms The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, and The Simpsons, and directed the films Terms of Endearment (1983), Broadcast News (1987), and As Good as It Gets (1997). He has received numerous awards, including three Academy Awards, 22 Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award.

Brooks began his career as a ticket taker at CBS, then wrote for CBS news broadcasts. In 1965 he moved to Los Angeles to work on David L. Wolper's documentaries. He wrote for My Mother the Car and My Friend Tony and created the series Room 222. Grant Tinker hired Brooks and producer Allan Burns at MTM Productions to create The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1970. Brooks and Burns then created two successful spin-offs of Mary Tyler Moore: Rhoda (a comedy) and Lou Grant (a drama). In 1978 Brooks left MTM Productions to co-create the sitcom Taxi (1978–1983).

Brooks moved to feature films when he wrote and co-produced the 1979 film Starting Over. His next project was the critically acclaimed film Terms of Endearment, which he produced, directed, and wrote, winning an Oscar for all three roles. He received acclaim for the films Broadcast News (1987) and As Good as It Gets (1997). He received mixed reviews for I'll Do Anything (1994), Spanglish (2004), and How Do You Know (2010). Brooks also produced Cameron Crowe's Say Anything... (1989) and Wes Anderson's Bottle Rocket (1996).

In 1986 Brooks founded Gracie Films, a television and film company. Although he did not intend to do so, in 1987 Brooks returned to television as producer of The Tracey Ullman Show. He hired cartoonist Matt Groening to create a series of shorts for the show, which in 1989 led to The Simpsons. The Simpsons has received numerous awards and continues to air more than 35 years later. Brooks also co-produced and co-wrote the 2007 film based on the show, The Simpsons Movie. Brooks has received 53 Emmy nominations, winning 21 of them.