Richard Brooks (actor) explained

Richard Brooks
Birth Name:Richard L. Brooks
Birth Date:9 December 1962
Birth Place:Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Education:Interlochen Center for the Arts
Years Active:1983–present

Richard L. Brooks (born December 9, 1962) is an American actor, singer, and director. He played the eccentric bounty hunter Jubal Early in the space-western Firefly and assistant district attorney Paul Robinette in the NBC drama series Law & Order from 1990 to 1993, later appearing as a defense attorney on that same show. In 2013, he began starring as Patrick Patterson in the BET drama series, Being Mary Jane.

Early life

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Brooks studied acting, dance, and voice work at Interlochen Academy of Arts in Michigan. Later, he moved to New York City and was a student of the Circle in the Square Professional Theater School.[1]

Career

While in New York, Brooks performed in the Eugene O'Neill Theater Conference production of August Wilson's Fences, which gained him a positive reputation.[1] A subsequent move to Los Angeles found the actor landing television roles in Hill Street Blues and The Russians Are Coming, along with made-for-TV features such as Badge of the Assassin (1985) and Resting Place (1986). With Teen Wolf (1985), The Hidden (1987), Off Limits (1988), Shakedown (1988), and Shocker (1989), Brooks began his work in the world of feature films. Brooks appeared as OD in the award-winning film 84C MoPic (1989), directed by Patrick Sheane Duncan.

Throughout the 1990s, most of his popularity came from his widespread exposure in his role as Paul Robinette on Law & Order.[2] However, the actor would constantly find himself alternating between the feature films, television, and the stage. After appearing in The Substitute and playing the villain in (both 1996), Brooks opted to try his hand at directing, and the result was Johnny B Good (1998). It is about a young, urban black man who makes a positive change after suffering amnesia. Brooks returned to television for the short-lived series G vs E in 1999. In 2001, he made a guest appearance in NYPD Blue. Brooks is also well known by some science fiction fans for his appearance on Joss Whedon's Firefly, as a bounty hunter named Jubal Early in the existentialist series finale "Objects in Space". He also appeared as Hasdrabul Skaras in "Slayer", the fifth episode of the series Brimstone. He also appeared as Detective Ehrle in the short-lived Fox series Drive, alongside Nathan Fillion, with whom Brooks had worked on Firefly.

In addition to his film work, Brooks also founded his own production company, Flat Top Entertainment LLC. At the dawn of the millennium, Brooks released his first solo R&B album, Smooth Love, on Flat Top Records.

In March 2011, Brooks played the role of Harmond Wilkes in Radio Golf, written by August Wilson, at Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, New York.[3] He played Frederick Douglass in the 2013 PBS series The Abolitionists.

Brooks starred as Patrick in the BET original series Being Mary Jane. It premiered July 2, 2013.

Brooks starred as Lead Marshal Pollack in Person of Interest, season 3, "The Devil's Share".

Brooks played Warden Gregory Wolfe in season 4 of The Flash,[4] and Dwight Wise in Seasons 5 and 6 of the show Bosch.[5]

Brooks played Augustus Barringer on the UMC network comedy The Rich and the Ruthless (2017–2021).

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984With Intent to KillEddie CoxTV movie
1985Teen WolfLemonade
Badge of the AssassinAnthony "Tony" BottomTV movie
1986Resting PlaceBooker T. DouglasTV movie
Good to GoChemist
1987A Special FriendshipMatt BowserTV movie
The HiddenSanchez
1988SaxoJoe
Off LimitsPreacher
ShakedownMichael Jones
1989Terror on Highway 91-TV movie
84C MoPicOD
ShockerRhino
The Neon EmpireTampaTV movie
1990To Sleep with AngerBabe Brother
1992MemphisEben KinshipTV movie
1995ChameleonTom Wilson
1996Black Rose of HarlemYancey
The SubstituteWellman
Judah Earl
Code Name: WolverineSpecial Agent John BainesTV movie
1998The WeddingLincoln Odis TV movie
Johnny B Good-
The Adventures of RagtimeAgent Dooley
Acid Rain-
1999In Too DeepWesley
2004LexieRicardo FrenchVideo
2006Spy Games: The Black Wolf Hunt-TV movie
2009Dough BoysDetective Nichols
2010Who Da Man?DanteShort
2011In My PocketDr. Barry
2013Officer DownMcAlister's Lawyer
2015The Sin SeerJake Ballard
2016You Can't Hurry LovePastor AveryTV movie
2020Noah's Arc: The 'Rona ChroniclesWade's DadShort
Troubled WatersFloyd Cash
Steele JusticeAlex

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983Hill Street BluesTyrone CraneEpisode: "The Russians Are Coming"
1988RobertEpisode: "The Siege"
1989Tour of DutyPrivate First Class MarstenEpisode: "True Grit"
Almost GrownCurtisEpisode: "Jersey Blues"
1990–2006Law & OrderPaul RobinetteMain Cast: Season 1-3, guest: Season 6 & 16-17
1994ERMr. FreemanEpisode: "Chicago Heat"
Chicago HopeHenry LavelleEpisode: "Shutt Down"
Mercury "The Heat" JonesEpisode: "Standing Eight Count"
1995RenegadeBarryEpisode: "Repo Raines"
1997Nash BridgesMax MooreEpisode: "Found Money"
RenegadeAgent Marcus DonnerEpisode: "Top Ten with a Bullet"
1998BrimstoneHasdrabul SkarasEpisode: "Slayer"
NYPD BlueEverette McRaeEpisode: "Hammer Time"
1999WWE RawHenry McNeilEpisode: "Rebellion Results"
Judging AmyMr. PlymouthEpisode: "Presumed Innocent"
1999–2000G vs EHenry McNeilMain Cast
2001NYPD BlueCaptain Eric KnowltonEpisode: "Franco, My Dear, I Don't Give a Damn"
Dead LastTyrell Nitro "TNT" ThompsonEpisode: "The Problem with Corruption"
2002FireflyJubal EarlyEpisode: "Objects in Space"
2003Skin-Episode: "Pilot"
NCISLieutenant Colonel WalshEpisode: "Marine Down"
2006Close to HomePhil RaabEpisode: "Community"
2007DriveDetective EhrleRecurring cast
2009Lie to MeMark BoulwareEpisode: "Life is Priceless"
2011Childrens HospitalRobertEpisode: "Father's Day"
Charlie's AngelsRichard UmbaqueEpisode: "Royal Angels"
2013American ExperienceFrederick DouglassEpisode: "The Abolitionists: Part 1-3"
Person of InterestLead Marshal PollackEpisode: "The Devil's Share"
2013–19Being Mary JanePatrick PattersonMain Cast
2015ElementaryDetective DempsEpisode: "For All You Know"
2016The Good WifeAce BarnstoneEpisode: "Targets"
2017Chicago JusticeDefense Attorney Paul RobinetteEpisode: "Uncertainty Principle" [6]
2017–18The FlashWarden Gregory WolfeRecurring cast: Season 4
2017–21The Rich and the RuthlessAugustus BarringerMain Cast
2018–19Jacqueline and JillyMagnus MitchellMain Cast
2019The BlacklistMitchell YoungEpisode: "Olivia Olson (No. 115)"
All RiseAssistant Chief Jack HealyEpisodes: "Pilot" & "A View from the Bus"
2019–20BoschDwight WiseRecurring cast: Season 5-6
2019–21Good TroubleJosephRecurring cast: Season 2-3
2020The Haves and the Have NotsAlRecurring cast: Season 7, guest: Season 8
2021Chicago P.D.Lieutenant Mike CareyEpisode: "Tender Age"
Shameless Hall of ShameBig LiamEpisode: "Frank: Ghosts of Gallagher Past"
2022Abbott ElementaryGerald Episode: "Gifted Program"

Notes and References

  1. News: Richard Brooks - About This Person. https://web.archive.org/web/20071119024418/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/228688/Richard-Brooks. dead. November 19, 2007. Movies & TV Dept.. The New York Times. 2007. February 26, 2013.
  2. Web site: 'Law & Order's' Richard Brooks to Star in Geva Theater's RADIO GOLF, 3/22 - 4/17. BroadwayWorld.com. 2011-02-23. 3 September 2011.
  3. Web site: Lomax. Janet. Former Law and Order star takes the stage at Geva in Radio Golf. WHEC.com. 2011-03-24. 3 September 2011.
  4. Web site: The Flash Adds Law & Order Alum In Recurring Role . . 4 November 2017. 1 December 2022.
  5. Web site: Bosch season 6 features Chicago Med and Chicago Justice alums. April 21, 2020. Frederick. Brittany. One Chicago Center. www.onechicagocenter.com. March 26, 2021.
  6. Web site: 'Law & Order' Star to Reprise Role on 'Chicago Justice'. Stanhope. Kate. January 10, 2017. The Hollywood Reporter. March 26, 2021.