Martin E. Brooks facts for kids

Martin E. Brooks (born Martin Baum; November 30, 1925 – December 7, 2015) was an American actor. He was best known for playing the scientist Rudy Wells in the TV shows The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. He took on this role starting in 1975.

Martin Brooks' Early Life

Martin Brooks was born Martin Baum in The Bronx, New York. When he was 10 years old, his family moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. After high school, he joined the U.S. Army. He became a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne Division. He received a Purple Heart medal for injuries he got during World War II.

After the war, he went to Penn State University. He also studied acting at the Dramatic Workshop of the New School for Social Research in New York City. He won an award for best actor in an off-Broadway play called Outside the Door. Later, he changed his name to Martin Brooks, following advice from a producer named Richard Rodgers.

Martin Brooks' Acting Career

Martin Brooks had a long and successful career in acting. He worked in theatre, on television, and in movies.

Theatre Work

In 1959, Brooks starred in a popular play called The Andersonville Trial. He was very proud of his theatre work. This included plays like An Enemy of the People and I Am a Camera. He also enjoyed working with famous actors like Julie Harris and Barbara Bel Geddes. Brooks also acted in a play called Burning Bright, which he had helped adapt from a novel.

Television Roles

Brooks appeared in many TV shows throughout his career. In the 1950s, he was seen in The Philco–Goodyear Television Playhouse. In the 1960s, he appeared in Combat!.

From 1972 to 1973, he had a regular role as Deputy D.A. Chapman in McMillan & Wife. His most famous roles were as Dr. Rudy Wells in The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. For a short time in 1977, he played Dr. Wells on two different TV networks at the same time. This was unusual because The Bionic Woman moved to NBC, while The Six Million Dollar Man stayed on ABC.

Brooks played Dr. Wells again in three TV movies:

• The Return of the Six-Million-Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman (1987)
• Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman (1989)
• Bionic Ever After? (1994)

He also had roles in other popular TV shows like:

• Hunter
• General Hospital
• Car 54, Where Are You?
• Gunsmoke
• Mission: Impossible
• Night Gallery
• Love, American Style
• The Mod Squad
• Dallas
• Knots Landing

Writing Career

Besides acting, Martin Brooks also wrote two novels. They were called Danny Brown and Roman Candle. He also wrote a play named Flo and Joe.

Personal Life and Passing

Martin Brooks was very close friends with actor Charles Durning. They met in 1959 while working on the play The Andersonville Trial. Their friendship lasted until Durning's death in 2012.

Martin Brooks passed away on December 7, 2015. He died of natural causes at his home in Studio City, Los Angeles. He was 90 years old, having just celebrated his birthday a week before.

Awards and Recognitions

Martin Brooks won two special awards for his role in the play Burning Bright. He received the Theatre World Award and the Donaldson Award.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows