While he shares his name with the late Oscar-winning screenwriter-director and a respected cinematographer, actor Richard Brooks has carved his own niche in show business. The handsome, African-American performer perhaps remains best-known for his three-year (1990-93) stint as assistant district attorney Paul Robinette on NBC's "Law & Order" despite a career that has encompassed stage and screen. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Brooks matriculated at the Interlochen Arts Academy before heading to NYC to study acting in the Circle in the Square training program. Stage roles in plays like "Equus" and "Twelfth Night" followed, as well as the opportunity to create a role in the premiere of August Wilson's "Fences" at the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference. By 1984, he had begun to make inroads on the small screen, appearing in small roles in TV-movies and the following year, he made his feature debut in the comedy "Teen Wolf". After marking time in mostly little-seen projects, Brooks garnered attention for his turn as the sergeant in Patrick Sheane Duncan's Vietnam drama "84 Charlie MoPic" (1989). Charles Burnett tapped him to play the troubled son in "To Sleep With Anger" (1990) before he landed his breakthrough TV role.
As Robinette, Brooks perfectly complemented Michael Moriarty's firebrand Ben Stone. Despite the nature of the show, which rarely delved into the private lives of the regulars and concentrated on their workplace roles, the actor found ways to keep his characterization fresh and compelling. When the network reportedly wanted to add a female presence to the cast, Brooks was let go--reportedly one week after he had turn down a role in Spike Lee's "Crooklyn" (1994). As such, his film career has been somewhat hampered, although he offered an impressive turn as the villainous drug lord in "The Crow: City of Angels" (1996). While continuing to have a presence on the small screen via guest appearances and TV-movies (notably 1998's "The Wedding" on ABC), Brooks had avoided returning to the weekly grind until "GvsE/Good vs. Evil" (USA Network, 1999; Sci-Fi Channel, 1999-2000), a comedy-thriller created by the Pate brothers about undead bounty hunters. Cast as the ultra-cool stuck in the 70s veteran Henry McNeil, he perfectly embodied the deadpan style the zany material required to be believable and his chemistry with co-star Clayton Rohner, as the rookie agent helped make the series eminently watchable.
Profession(s):
Actor
Sometimes Credited As:
Education
The Karamu House Cleveland, Ohio
Interlochen Arts Academy Interlochen, Michigan
Circle in the Square Professional Theatre School New York, New York
2002 Returned to Chicago's Goodman Theatre to star in "Drowning Crow", playwright Regina Taylor's reimagining of Chekhov's "The Seagull" set in the Gullah culture of South Carolina
2001 Had title role of the Chicago stage production "King Hedley II"; peformed at the Goodman Theatre
1998 Had featured role in the ABC miniseries "The Wedding", directed by Charles Burnett
1996 Reprised role of Paul Robinette in one episode of "Law & Order"
1996 Portrayed a villainous drug lord in "The Crow: City of Angels"
1990 Offered a strong turn as the taciturn 'Babe Brother' in Charles Burnett's "To Sleep With Anger"
1989 Cast as a sergeant serving in Vietnam in "84 Charlie MoPic"
1989 Co-starred in the Showtime miniseries "The Neon Empire", a fictionalized account of the transformation of Las Vegas from desert town to cosmopolitan showplace
1987 Appeared in the superior horror film "The Hidden"
1985 Feature film debut in "Teen Wolf"
1984 First TV-movie, "With Intent to Kill" (CBS)
1980 Moved to NYC to study acting
Debut as series regular, played assistant district attorney Paul Robinette in "Law & Order" (NBC)
Had to turn down a role in Spike Lee's "Crooklyn" because of commitment to "Law & Order"; according to Brooks, one week later he was released from the role
Returned to series TV as co-star of "GvsE" (USA Network, 1999; Sci-Fi Channel 1999-2000)
