Mel Brooks’s 11-Finger Hollywood Handprint

Image by Getty Images

By Anne Cohen September 10, 2014

Getty Images

When he’s not watching “Downton Abbey” with Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks keeps busy by pranking future generations.

The comedian finally cemented his Hollywood legacy on Monday afternoon during the Hollywood Cement Ceremony outside Mann’s Chinese Theater (“Blazing Saddles!”). The event also marked the 40th anniversary of “Young Frankenstein.” Dressed as only Mel Brooks can be, in a white suit and floral tie, the 88-year-old wore a prosthetic finger on his left hand, proving that life imitates art.

Basically, 100 years from now, people will walk by and remark: “Wow, there’s Mel Brooks. He had 11 fingers, you know.” Genius Mel. Genius.

Brooks later tweeted about the event:

I desperately need to wash my hands. pic.twitter.com/fKVl4FyMFt

— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) September 8, 2014

Hands are clean but the shoes will never be the same. Now I’m off to tape @ConanOBrien tonight! #teamcoco

— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) September 8, 2014

Mazel tov, Mel! Keep the laughs coming.

Anne Cohen was the Forward’s deputy digital media editor. When she’s not looking for the secret Jewish history of Voodoo in New Orleans, or making lists about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she writes for The Assimilator. She graduated from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism with an M.S. magazine concentration in 2012.

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