Biography
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" …
Career Milestones
| 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) | ||
1980 | Moved to NYC to study acting | |
1984 | First TV-movie, "With Intent to Kill" (CBS) | |
1985 | Feature film debut in "Teen Wolf" | |
1987 | Appeared in the superior horror film "The Hidden" | |
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 | |
1990 | Offered a strong turn as the taciturn 'Babe Brother' in Charles Burnett's "To Sleep With Anger" | |
1996 | Portrayed a villainous drug lord in "The Crow: City of Angels" | |
1996 | Reprised role of Paul Robinette in one episode of "Law & Order" | |
1998 | Had featured role in the ABC miniseries "The Wedding", directed by Charles Burnett | |
2001 | Had title role of the Chicago stage production "King Hedley II"; peformed at the Goodman Theatre | |
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 | |