Richard Brooks, a commanding actor, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent his formative years before pursuing his passion for the performing arts. He attended the prestigious Interlochen Academy of Arts in Michigan, where he honed his skills in acting, dance, and voice work. After completing his studies, Brooks relocated to New York City, where he enrolled in the Circle in the Square Professional Theater School and participated in the Eugene O'Neill Theater Conference production of August Wilson's critically acclaimed play, Fences.
Following his time in New York, Brooks made the move to Los Angeles, marking the beginning of his illustrious film career. He quickly made a name for himself with notable appearances in Teen Wolf (1985),Off Limits (1988),Shakedown (1988),Shocker (1989),and To Sleep with Anger (1990). Brooks' talent did not go unnoticed, as he received recognition for his roles in The Substitute (1996) alongside Tom Berenger, and as the enigmatic voodoo druglord Judah Earl in The Crow: City of Angels (1996),which featured an impressive cast, including Vincent Perez, Thomas Jane, Mia Kirshner, and Iggy Pop.
In addition to his film work, Brooks has made significant contributions to television, where he is perhaps best known for his roles as Paul Robinette on the popular series Law & Order (1990) and Jubal Early on the critically acclaimed show Firefly (2002). Brooks has also demonstrated his versatility as a character actor, taking on a range of roles, including that of Frederick Douglass in the PBS American Experience docudrama mini-series The Abolitionists (1988) and Gabrielle Union's big brother Patrick in the hit BET drama Being Mary Jane (2013).
