- He and John Huston co-wrote the adapted screenplay for The Killers (1946), but neither received onscreen credit because of studio contract restraints.
- He reportedly first met Cary Grant at the racetrack and his name seemed familiar to the actor because he had recently read about 70 pages of Brooks' script for Crisis (1950) and wanted to do the role, as it was such an unusual part for him. Already an established writer, Brooks told him he'd like to direct, too. To that Grant replied, "If you can write it, I don't see why you can't direct it. What you don't know, I certainly know." "Crisis" became Brooks' first film as director.
- As of 2013, Brooks remains one of six men who directed his wife in a performance nominated for a Best-Actress Oscar; in his case, wife Jean Simmons in The Happy Ending (1969). The other five are Joel Coen directing Frances McDormand in Fargo (1996), John Cassavetes directing Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and in Gloria (1980), Blake Edwards directing Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria (1982), Paul Czinner directing Elisabeth Bergner in Escape Me Never (1935) and Paul Newman directing Joanne Woodward in Rachel, Rachel (1968). Jules Dassin also directed his future wife Melina Mercouri in an Oscar-nominated performance (Never on Sunday (1960))--though they were not yet married at the time of the nomination.
- Had known writer/director Samuel Fuller from the days when they were both reporters in New York City.
- While never officially accused of being a communist by The House Un-American Activities Committee, Brooks was nervous of being possibly targeted. Many writers in Hollywood were in fear of HUAC in the late 1940s. During the making of Lord Jim (1965), Brooks stated to a close friend that if he had had to move, he would live permanently in the UK, and would never want to return to the US. But the blacklist era ended without Brooks facing investigation.
- Directed ten different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Lee J. Cobb, Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor, Burt Lancaster, Shirley Jones, Ed Begley, Geraldine Page, Shirley Knight, Jean Simmons and Tuesday Weld. Three of them--Jones, Lancaster and Begley--won Oscars for their performances in a Brooks film.
- Served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
- Daughter, with Jean Simmons, is Kate Brooks.
- He has written three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: The Killers (1946), Blackboard Jungle (1955) and In Cold Blood (1967). He has also directed two films that are in the registry: Blackboard Jungle and In Cold Blood.
- Wanted his wife Jean Simmons as Bonnie Parker in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), but producer and star Warren Beatty turned him down because he believed Simmons was too old.
- Ex-stepfather of Tracy Granger.
- Was sometimes referred to as "the angriest man in Hollywood".
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