Richard Brooks (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Brooks
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| Born |
Richard L. Brooks
December 9, 1962 |
| Education | Interlochen Center for the Arts |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1983–present |
Richard L. Brooks, born on December 9, 1962, is an American actor, singer, and director. He is known for his roles in popular TV shows. For example, he played the unique bounty hunter Jubal Early in the space-western series Firefly. He also played assistant district attorney Paul Robinette in the NBC drama Law & Order from 1990 to 1993. Later, he returned to Law & Order as a defense attorney. Since 2013, he has starred as Patrick Patterson in the BET drama series Being Mary Jane.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Richard Brooks was born and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He studied acting, dance, and singing at the Interlochen Academy of Arts in Michigan. After that, he moved to New York City. There, he continued his studies at the Circle in the Square Professional Theater School.
Acting Career Highlights
While in New York, Brooks performed in the play Fences by August Wilson. This performance helped him gain a good reputation. He then moved to Los Angeles and started getting roles on television. These included shows like Hill Street Blues and TV movies such as Badge of the Assassin (1985).
Starting in Feature Films
Brooks began working in feature films in the mid-1980s. Some of his early movies include Teen Wolf (1985) and The Hidden (1987). He also appeared in Off Limits (1988) and Shocker (1989). In 1989, he played OD in the film 84C MoPic.
Popular TV Roles and Directing
During the 1990s, Richard Brooks became very well-known for his role as Paul Robinette on Law & Order. He continued to act in movies, TV shows, and on stage. After appearing in films like The Substitute and The Crow: City of Angels (both 1996), Brooks decided to try directing. He directed the movie Johnny B Good in 1998. This film is about a young man who changes his life after losing his memory.
Brooks returned to television in 1999 for the series G vs E. In 2001, he made a guest appearance on NYPD Blue. Many fans enjoyed his performance as the bounty hunter Jubal Early in the Firefly episode "Objects in Space". He also worked with Nathan Fillion on Firefly and later on the series Drive.
Music and Recent Projects
Richard Brooks also started his own company, Flat Top Entertainment LLC. In the early 2000s, he released his first solo R&B music album called Smooth Love.
In 2011, Brooks played Harmond Wilkes in the play Radio Golf by August Wilson. He also played the historical figure Frederick Douglass in the 2013 PBS series The Abolitionists.
Brooks starred as Patrick Patterson in the BET series Being Mary Jane, which started in 2013. He has also appeared in other popular TV shows. These include Person of Interest, The Flash (as Warden Gregory Wolfe), and Bosch (as Dwight Wise). From 2017 to 2021, Brooks played Augustus Barringer on the UMC network comedy The Rich and the Ruthless.
Filmography
Film Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | With Intent to Kill | Eddie Cox | TV movie |
| 1985 | Teen Wolf | Lemonade | |
| Badge of the Assassin | Anthony "Tony" Bottom | TV movie | |
| 1986 | Resting Place | Booker T. Douglas | TV movie |
| Good to Go | Chemist | ||
| 1987 | A Special Friendship | Matt Bowser | TV movie |
| The Hidden | Sanchez | ||
| 1988 | Saxo | Joe | |
| Off Limits | Preacher | ||
| Shakedown | Michael Jones | ||
| 1989 | Terror on Highway 91 | - | TV movie |
| 84C MoPic | OD | ||
| Shocker | Rhino | ||
| The Neon Empire | Tampa | TV movie | |
| 1990 | To Sleep with Anger | Babe Brother | |
| 1992 | Memphis | Eben Kinship | TV movie |
| 1995 | Chameleon | Tom Wilson | |
| 1996 | Black Rose of Harlem | Yancey | |
| The Substitute | Wellman | ||
| The Crow: City of Angels | Judah Earl | ||
| Code Name: Wolverine | Special Agent John Baines | TV movie | |
| 1998 | The Wedding | Lincoln Odis | TV movie |
| Johnny B Good | - | ||
| The Adventures of Ragtime | Agent Dooley | ||
| Acid Rain | - | ||
| 1999 | In Too Deep | Wesley | |
| 2004 | Lexie | Ricardo French | Video |
| 2006 | Spy Games: The Black Wolf Hunt | - | TV movie |
| 2009 | Dough Boys | Detective Nichols | |
| 2010 | Who Da Man? | Dante | Short |
| 2011 | In My Pocket | Dr. Barry | |
| 2013 | Officer Down | McAlister's Lawyer | |
| 2015 | The Sin Seer | Jake Ballard | |
| 2016 | You Can't Hurry Love | Pastor Avery | TV movie |
| 2020 | Noah's Arc: The 'Rona Chronicles | Wade's Dad | Short |
| Troubled Waters | Floyd Cash | ||
| Steele Justice | Alex |
Television Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Hill Street Blues | Tyrone Crane | Episode: "The Russians Are Coming" |
| 1988 | Spenser: For Hire | Robert | Episode: "The Siege" |
| 1989 | Tour of Duty | Private First Class Marsten | Episode: "True Grit" |
| Almost Grown | Curtis | Episode: "Jersey Blues" | |
| 1990–2006 | Law & Order | Paul Robinette | Main Cast: Season 1–3, guest: Season 6 & 16–17 |
| 1994 | ER | Mr. Freeman | Episode: "Chicago Heat" |
| Chicago Hope | Henry Lavelle | Episode: "Shutt Down" | |
| Diagnosis: Murder | Mercury "The Heat" Jones | Episode: "Standing Eight Count" | |
| 1995 | Renegade | Barry | Episode: "Repo Raines" |
| 1997 | Nash Bridges | Max Moore | Episode: "Found Money" |
| Renegade | Agent Marcus Donner | Episode: "Top Ten with a Bullet" | |
| 1998 | Brimstone | Hasdrabul Skaras | Episode: "Slayer" |
| NYPD Blue | Everette McRae | Episode: "Hammer Time" | |
| 1999 | WWE Raw | Henry McNeil | Episode: "Rebellion Results" |
| Judging Amy | Mr. Plymouth | Episode: "Presumed Innocent" | |
| 1999–2000 | G vs E | Henry McNeil | Main Cast |
| 2001 | NYPD Blue | Captain Eric Knowlton | Episode: "Franco, My Dear, I Don't care" |
| Dead Last | Tyrell Nitro "TNT" Thompson | Episode: "The Problem with Corruption" | |
| 2002 | Firefly | Jubal Early | Episode: "Objects in Space" |
| 2003 | Skin | - | Episode: "Pilot" |
| NCIS | Lieutenant Colonel Walsh | Episode: "Marine Down" | |
| 2006 | Close to Home | Phil Raab | Episode: "Community" |
| 2007 | Drive | Detective Ehrle | Recurring cast |
| 2009 | Lie to Me | Mark Boulware | Episode: "Life is Priceless" |
| 2011 | Childrens Hospital | Robert | Episode: "Father's Day" |
| Charlie's Angels | Richard Umbaque | Episode: "Royal Angels" | |
| 2013 | American Experience | Frederick Douglass | Episode: "The Abolitionists: Part 1-3" |
| 2013 | Person of Interest | Lead Marshal Pollack | Episode: "The Devil's Share" |
| 2013–19 | Being Mary Jane | Patrick Patterson | Main Cast |
| 2015 | Elementary | Detective Demps | Episode: "For All You Know" |
| 2016 | The Good Wife | Ace Barnstone | Episode: "Targets" |
| 2017 | Chicago Justice | Defense Attorney Paul Robinette | Episode: "Uncertainty Principle" |
| 2017–18 | The Flash | Warden Gregory Wolfe | Recurring cast: Season 4 |
| 2017–21 | The Rich and the Ruthless | Augustus Barringer | Main Cast |
| 2018–19 | Jacqueline and Jilly | Magnus Mitchell | Main Cast |
| 2019 | The Blacklist | Mitchell Young | Episode: "Olivia Olson (No. 115)" |
| All Rise | Assistant Chief Jack Healy | Episodes: "Pilot" & "A View from the Bus" | |
| 2019–20 | Bosch | Dwight Wise | Recurring cast: Season 5–6 |
| 2019–21 | Good Trouble | Joseph | Recurring cast: Season 2–3 |
| 2020 | The Haves and the Have Nots | Al | Recurring cast: Season 7, guest: Season 8 |
| 2021 | Chicago P.D. | Lieutenant Mike Carey | Episode: "Tender Age" |
| Shameless Hall of Shame | Big Liam | Episode: "Frank: Ghosts of Gallagher Past" | |
| 2022 | Abbott Elementary | Gerald | Episode: "Gifted Program" |
| 2022 | 9-1-1 | Chief Simpson | 5 episodes |
Awards and Nominations
Richard Brooks has been recognized for his work.
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama Series | The Rich and the Ruthless | Nominated |
