Joel Brooks Explained

Joel Brooks
Birth Date:17 December 1949
Birth Place:New York City, New York, US
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1976–present

Joel Brooks is an American actor, known for his roles in Stir Crazy, My Sister Sam, Six Feet Under, The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green and Phil of the Future. Brooks also had a recurring role as a psychologist in Ally McBeal.

Career

Brooks was born in New York City, New York. Brooks had a successful career as a character actor in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1976, he won $10,000 on Pyramid; his celebrity partner was Lucie Arnaz. Twelve years later, in 1988, Arnaz and Brooks were both featured as the week's celebrities.

Brooks appeared in an episode of M*A*S*H as a wounded Italian soldier who fell in love with Margaret and refused to be shipped back to his unit because of his undying love for her. He also appeared in two episodes of Three's Company as Dr. Prescott, a psychologist Jack sees to build his self-confidence. In 1980, he played Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor's lawyer in the movie Stir Crazy. Brooks was then featured in two episodes of The Facts of Life as Edna Garrett's son Raymond and reprised that role in the 2001 reunion film. In 1984, he appeared as a movie director in The Dukes Of Hazzard seventh-season episode "The Dukes in Hollywood" and also appeared in an episode in the second season of Night Court as a representative of a cat food and accessories company that wished to reclaim their ostensibly stolen feline mascot. He played gay Secret Service Agent Randy in the short run of Hail To The Chief.

In the 1990s, his career continued in such hit shows as , where he played Falow in the episode "Move Along Home". In 1998, Brooks played Emperor Larry, the cousin of Sabrina Spellman on the television series Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.

In the early 2000s, he appeared in seven episodes of HBO's hit series Six Feet Under as Robbie, Ruth Fisher's caustic gay co-worker who offers advice on how to accept her son David's homosexuality. In 2008 he appeared in an episode of The Big Bang Theory as a Jewish professor from whom Sheldon seeks advice in the episode "The Jerusalem Duality".

In 2014, he guest-starred on The Young and the Restless as the judge in the trial of Ian Ward v. Nikki Newman. In 2020, he appeared twice in the Full House revival series Fuller House on Netflix as an FBI Agent in the episode "Five Dates with Kimmy Gibbler" and Agent Cooper in the finale episode "Our Very Last Show, Again".

In 2023, Brooks began working on Good Trouble as Morty, a Jewish comedy writer who begins to come out as a gay man.

Personal life

Brooks is currently involved in teaching an audition techniques class, Auditions LA, alongside Beth Maitland.[1]

Film

Year Title RoleNotes
2019The Untold Story Samuel
2018Mistrust Steve Masterson
2012Titans of Newark Levi Katz (Short)
2009Basement Jack Officer Geoff Wytynek (Video)
2005The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green Hat Sister
2005Bound by Lies Raymond Karp (Video)
2002Now You Know Friend of Mr. Victim
2002The Gatekeeper Vance Johnson
2002Duty Dating Paul Bartley
2002Role of a Lifetime Irv Katz
2001Odessa or Bust The Director (Short)
2001Circuit Married Hotel John (uncredited)
1999Swallows Pietro
1993Blue Flame Morgan
1993Indecent Proposal Realtor
1989Skin Deep Jake
1984Protocol Ben
1980Stir Crazy Len Garber

Television

Year Title RoleNotes
2023–2024Good Trouble Morty Recurring
2017–2018The Mick Detective Hurley 2 episodes
2015–2017Young & Hungry Rabbi Ben Shapiro 3 episodes
2016–2017K.C. Undercover Dr. Levinstein 2 episodes
2016Masters of Sex Mr. Schiff 2 episodes
2013–2016 13 episodes
2015Sister Judy and the Delinquents Father Joseph (TV Short)
2014–2015 The Young and the Restless Judge Ramsey 5 episodes
2014Entitled Harry Harrison TV movie
2014NCIS Ronnie Mustard Episode: "Rock and a Hard Place"
2013Major Crimes Gary Bridges Episode: "Year-End Blowout"
2011–2013Shake It Up Mr. Polk 4 episodes
2012Bent Gerald Neibar Episode: "Tile Date"
2010–2011The Mentalist Dimitri's Lawyer / Lawyer 2 episodes
2011 Manny Episode: "Reseda"
2011$#*! My Dad Says Freddy Episode: "Who's Your Daddy?"
2010Days of Our Lives Defense Attorney 2 episodes
2010Rizzoli & Isles Roger Episode: "She Works Hard for the Money"
2009Trauma Kurt Davies Episode: "Masquerade"
2009Trust Me Episode: "Norming"
2008Raising the Bar Murray Episode: "Bagels and Locks"
2008The Big Bang Theory Professor Goldfarb Episode: "The Jerusalem Duality"
2007Cane John Fielding Episode: "All Bets Are Off"
2007State of Mind Dr. Nour Episode: "O Rose, Thou Art Sick"
2006–2007The War at Home Dr. Joel Lieber 3 episodes
2006Reba Doctor Episode: "Reba's Heart"
2005–2006Phil of the Future Mr. Messerschmidt / Joel Messerschmidt / Battina Messerschmidt 4 episodes
2005 Felix Parker Episode: "Zoo York"
2005The Closer Assemblyman Bridges Episode: "Batter Up"
2004Without a Trace Fred Cohen Episode: "Trials"
2004Half & Half Dr. Bruckner 2 episodes
2003Run of the House Bernard / Mr. Franklin 3 episodes
2003Crossing Jordan Bank Manager Episode: "Pandora's Trunk: Part 1"
2003Everybody Loves Raymond Mr. Rodell Episode: "The Shower"
2003The Division Patrick Episode: "Rush to Judgment"
2002Door to Door Alan TV movie
2001–2002Six Feet Under Robbie 7 episodes
1997–2001The Wonderful World of Disney Raymond Garrett / Ferguson / Principal Norris 3 episodes
2001Dark Realm Episode: "Organizer 2000"
1995–2001Diagnosis Murder Roger's Doctor / Harrison Powell 2 episodes
2001The Lot Rachel's Attorney Episode: "Property of Sylver Screen"
2001Spring Break Lawyer Judge TV movie
2001Strong Medicine Doctor Hogan Episode: "Child Care"
1999It's Like, You Know... Clark 2 episodes
1999Oh Baby Baker Episode: "The Colonel"
1999The Parent 'Hood Mr. Worthington Episode: "To Kiss or Not to Kiss"
1999Beverly Hills, 90210 Dr. Van Fertle Episode: "I Wanna Reach Right Out and Grab Ya"
1999Dharma & Greg Arthur Episode: "Dharma Drags Edward Out of Retirement"
1998Ally McBeal Dr. Hubbell Episode: "Love Unlimited"
1998Style & Substance Jerry Lindemann Episode: "Do Not Go Squealing Into That Good Night"
1998Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Emperor Larry Episode: "And the Sabrina Goes to..."
1998 Jacob Mayhew TV movie
1998The Wayans Bros. Archibald Episode: "Recipe for Success"
1997Brooklyn South Aaron Geller Episode: "Why Can't Even a Couple of Us Get Along?"
1996The Man Who Captured Eichmann Meir TV movie
1996Homeboys in Outer Space Major Domo Episode: "Trading Faces or All the King's Homeys"
1996Murphy Brown George Episode: "A Comedy of Eros"
1996Living Single Del Stuart Episode: "The Engagement: Part 2"
1996DuckmanEpisode: "A Room with a Bellevue" (voice)
1995Murder, She Wrote Ted Duffy Episode: "Unwilling Witness"
1995 Donald Rafferty Episode: "Chip Off the Old Clark"
1995Here Come the Munsters Larry Walker TV movie
1995Too Something Gallery Owner Episode: "Donny's Exhibit"
1995The Mommies Bernard DuBois Episode: "Four Mommies and a Funeral"
1994Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Barker / Elderly Monster (voice) Episode: "Curse of the Krumm/Krumm Goes Hollywood"
1994Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Judd McCoy Episode: "Money Trouble"
1994Dream On Dr. Zudikoff Episode: "A Face Worse Than Death"
1993Jack's Place Santoro the Great 2 episodes
1993Dudley Harold Krowten 5 episodes
1993 Falow Episode: "Move Along Home"
1988–1992L.A. Law Don Butcher / Kiefer Mitchell 2 episodes
1992Civil Wars Ira Belkin Episode: "Chute First, Ask Questions Later"
1992Are You Lonesome Tonight TV movie
1990–1991Good Grief Warren Pepper 13 episodes
1990Close Encounters TV movie
1990We'll Take Manhattan Rigaletti TV movie
1990His & Hers Mr. Hofstetter Episode: "Dueling Therapists"
1989Dinner at Eight Max Kane TV movie
1989Hunter Chad Jorgenson Episode: "Investment in Death"
1989Duet Robert Episode: "Too Many Cooks"
1986–1988My Sister Sam J.D. Lucas 44 episodes
1988Going to the Chapel
1986Stranded Phil TV movie
1986Rowdies Psychiatrist TV movie
1986Riptide Jerome Sedgewick Episode: "Smiles We Left Behind"
1986The Twilight Zone Jack Holland (segment "Cold Reading") Episode: "Gramma/Personal Demons/Cold Reading"
1986The Magical World of Disney Lee Episode: "Help Wanted: Kids"
1985Shadow Chasers Laddie Johnson Episode: "Phantom of the Galleria"
1985Hail to the Chief Randy Episode: "Pilot"
1984The Dukes of Hazzard The Director Episode: "The Dukes in Hollywood"
1984Night Court Roger Blair Episode: "Billie and the Cat"
1980–1984Benson Mr. Krank / Walter Harwell 2 episodes
1983–1984The Facts of Life Raymond Garrett 2 episodes
1983Alice Vinnie Jr. Episode: "The Over-the-Hill Girls"
1983We Got It Made District Attorney Episode: "Mickey the Shoplifter"
1983Diff'rent Strokes Stanley Pearlburg Episode: "Mr. T and mr. t"
1983After George Cal Sloan (TV Short)
1983Teachers Only Spud Le Boone 13 episodes
1982–1983It Takes Two Dr. Rogers 4 episodes
1983The Powers of Matthew Star Burnside Episode: "The Racer's Edge"
1982Private Benjamin Lt. Billy Dean 8 episodes
1982It's a Living The Tout Episode: "Horsing Around"
1982Open All Night Ross Episode: "Sitting Ducks"
1982Taxi Nick Dwyer Episode: "Tony's Lady"
1981Eight Is Enough Bennett Episode: "Starting Over"
1981Dallas Larry Episode: "The Mark of Cain"
1981Soap Morty Stevens Episode #4.12
1980The Mating Season Paul Wagner TV movie
1980M*A*S*H Corpsman Ignazio De Simone Episode: "Cementing Relationships"
1980Benson Walter Harwell Episode: "Bugging the Governor"
1980When the Whistle Blows Max Episode: "Macho Man"
1979–1980Three's Company Dr. Prescott 2 episodes
1979Ryan's Hope Joe Novak's Driver / Novak's Drive 3 episodes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2009-06-23 . The Young and the Restless: Beth Maitland’s New Website for Actors! . 2024-02-19 . Soaps.com . en-US.