The 100 Greatest Brooklynites of All Time: 10 to 6
Melvin Kaminsky was born and raised in Williamsburg (and was taught the drums by fellow Williamsburger Buddy Rich!), and went on to become one of the most influential comedians of all time—he’s won Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, just about everything. From The Producers to Blazing Saddles, The 2000 Year Old Man and Get Smart, his influence on American culture is wide and deep, trailblazing a wry, parodic—occasionally ridiculous—sensibility that now seems as American as apple pie.