Rand Brooks' early career in film began with a small role in the 1938 film "Love Finds a Way", followed by numerous other minor roles in films such as "Laddie", "And One was Beautiful", "The Son of Monte Cristo", "Jennie", and "Niagara Falls". His breakthrough came when he landed the role of Charles Hamilton in the iconic 1939 film "Gone with the Wind".
In the 1940s, Brooks continued to appear in films, taking on small roles in movies such as "The Devil's Playground", "Fool's Gold", "Unexpected Guest", "Dangerous Venture", and "Hoppy's Holiday", which starred William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy. He also played the role of Lucky, Hopalong Cassidy's youthful sidekick, in twelve feature films.
As his film career progressed, Brooks began to transition into television, making co-starring appearances on popular series such as "The Roy Rogers Show", "Highway Patrol", "Lassie", "Wagon Train", "Maverick", "The Real McCoys", "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin", "Bat Masterson", "Laramie", "Gunsmoke", "The Munsters", "Perry Mason", "Columbo", and "Bonanza". He also appeared in nine episodes of "The Lone Ranger", where he formed a lasting friendship with Clayton Moore.
In addition to his acting career, Brooks was a successful entrepreneur. In 1966, he founded Professional Ambulance Service in Glendale, California, with two used ambulances and a credit card. By 1977, his company had grown to become the largest private ambulance 9-1-1 paramedic provider in Los Angeles County, earning numerous awards and commendations along the way. In 1995, Brooks sold his company to American Medical Response.
Throughout his life, Brooks was married twice, first to an unknown spouse, and then to Hermine, a former executive with his ambulance company. He had two children, a daughter and a son, Rand Brooks Jr., who owns a trucking company in Los Angeles. Brooks passed away in 2003 at his ranch in Santa Barbara County, California.
In addition to his extensive film and television career, Brooks also ventured into writing, producing, and directing. He wrote, produced, and directed the film "Legend of the Northwest". Brooks' final acting credit came in the 1972 television series "Emergency!", where he portrayed a police officer in the two-hour premier episode. Throughout his long and distinguished career, Brooks appeared in over 140 films and television series.
