Richard Brooks (actor)

Richard Brooks
Born
Richard Lee Brooks

(1962-12-09) December 9, 1962
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • director
Years active1983–present

Richard Lee 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 he later 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] His roles alternated between feature films, television, and the stage. After appearing in The Substitute and playing the villain in The Crow: City of Angels (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' performance on Joss Whedon's Firefly as bounty hunter Jubal Early in the existentialist series finale "Objects in Space" gained him many fans. He also appeared as Hasdrabul Skaras in "Slayer", the fifth episode of the series Brimstone and as Detective Ehrle in the short-lived Fox series Drive, alongside Nathan Fillion, with whom Brooks had worked on Firefly.

Brooks 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. He starred as Lead Marshal Pollack in Person of Interest, season 3, "The Devil's Share". He 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). He has a recurring role as LAFD Chief Simpson in 9-1-1.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Teen Wolf Lemonade
1986 Good to Go Chemist
1987 The Hidden Sanchez
1988 Saxo Joe
Off Limits Preacher
Shakedown Michael Jones
1989 84C MoPic OD
Shocker Rhino
1990 To Sleep with Anger Babe Brother
1995 Chameleon Tom Wilson
1996 Black Rose of Harlem Yancey
The Substitute Wellman
The Crow: City of Angels Judah Earl
1998 Johnny B Good -
The Adventures of Ragtime Agent Dooley
Acid Rain -
1999 In Too Deep Wesley
2004 Lexie Ricardo French Direct-to-video
2009 Dough Boys Detective Nichols
2010 Who Da Man? Dante Short film
2011 In My Pocket Dr. Barry
2013 Officer Down McAlister's Lawyer
2015 The Sin Seer Jake Ballard
2020 Noah's Arc: The 'Rona Chronicles Wade's Dad Short film
Troubled Waters Floyd Cash
Steele Justice Alex

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1983 Hill Street Blues Tyrone Crane Episode: "The Russians Are Coming"
1984 With Intent to Kill Eddie Cox TV movie
1985 Badge of the Assassin Anthony "Tony" Bottom TV movie
1986 Resting Place Booker T. Douglas TV movie
1987 A Special Friendship Matt Bowser TV movie
1988 Spenser: For Hire Robert Episode: "The Siege"
1989 Terror on Highway 91 - TV movie
Tour of Duty Private First Class Marsten Episode: "True Grit"
Almost Grown Curtis Episode: "Jersey Blues"
The Neon Empire Tampa TV movie
1990–1993, 1996, 2005, 2006 Law & Order Paul Robinette Main Cast (seasons 1–3); 3 episodes (seasons 6, 16, 17)
1992 Memphis Eben Kinship TV movie
1994 ER Mr. Freeman Episode: "Chicago Heat"
Chicago Hope Henry Lavelle Episode: "Shutt Down"
Diagnosis: Murder Mercury "The Heat" Jones Episode: "Standing Eight Count"
1995 Renegade Barry Episode: "Repo Raines"
1996 Code Name: Wolverine Special Agent John Baines TV movie
1997 Nash Bridges Max Moore Episode: "Found Money"
Renegade Agent Marcus Donner Episode: "Top Ten with a Bullet"
1998 The Wedding Lincoln Odis TV movie
Brimstone Hasdrabul Skaras Episode: "Slayer"
NYPD Blue Everette McRae Episode: "Hammer Time"
1999 WWE Raw Henry McNeil Episode: "Rebellion Results"
Judging Amy Mr. Plymouth Episode: "Presumed Innocent"
1999–2000 G vs E Henry McNeil Main cast
2001 NYPD Blue Captain Eric Knowlton Episode: "Franco, My Dear, I Don't Give a Damn"
Dead Last Tyrell Nitro "TNT" Thompson Episode: "The Problem with Corruption"
2002 Firefly Jubal Early Episode: "Objects in Space"
2003 Skin - Episode: "Pilot"
NCIS Lieutenant Colonel Walsh Episode: "Marine Down"
2006 Close to Home Phil Raab Episode: "Community"
Spy Games: The Black Wolf Hunt - TV movie
2007 Drive Detective Ehrle Recurring role
2009 Lie to Me Mark Boulware Episode: "Life is Priceless"
2011 Childrens Hospital Robert Episode: "Father's Day"
Charlie's Angels Richard Umbaque Episode: "Royal Angels"
2013 American Experience Frederick Douglass Episode: "The Abolitionists: Part 1-3"
Person of Interest Lead Marshal Pollack Episode: "The Devil's Share"
2013–2019 Being Mary Jane Patrick Patterson Main cast
2015 Elementary Detective Demps Episode: "For All You Know"
2016 Unsung Hollywood Himself Episode: "Sheryl Lee Ralph"
The Good Wife Ace Barnstone Episode: "Targets"
You Can't Hurry Love Pastor Avery TV movie
2017 Chicago Justice Defense Attorney Paul Robinette Episode: "Uncertainty Principle" [6]
2017–2018 The Flash Warden Gregory Wolfe Recurring role (season 4)
2017–2021 The Rich and the Ruthless Augustus Barringer Main cast
2018–2019 Jacqueline and Jilly Magnus Mitchell Main cast
2019 The Blacklist Mitchell Young Episode: "Olivia Olson (No. 115)"
All Rise Assistant Chief Jack Healy Episodes: "Pilot" & "A View from the Bus"
2019–2020 Bosch Dwight Wise Recurring role (seasons 5–6)
2019–2021, 2023 Good Trouble Joseph Recurring role (seasons 2–3), 1 episode (season 5)
2020 The Haves and the Have Nots Al Recurring role (season 7), 1 episode (season 8)
2021 Chicago P.D. Lieutenant Mike Carey Episode: "Tender Age"
Shameless Hall of Shame Big Liam Episode: "Frank: Ghosts of Gallagher Past"
2022–2024 Abbott Elementary Gerald 3 episodes
2024–2025 9-1-1 Chief Simpson Recurring role (seasons 7–9)
2025 Reasonable Doubt Eddie Nicholas Recurring role (season 3) [7]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2018 Daytime Emmy Awards Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama Series The Rich and the Ruthless Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 "Richard Brooks - About This Person". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2007. Archived from the original on November 19, 2007. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  2. ↑ Robbins, Caryn (February 23, 2011). "'Law & Order's' Richard Brooks to Star in Geva Theater's Radio Golf, 3/22 - 4/17". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  3. ↑ Lomax, Janet (March 24, 2011). "Former Law and Order star takes the stage at Geva in Radio Golf". WHEC.com. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  4. ↑ Graceling-Moore, Rose (November 3, 2017). "The Flash Adds Law & Order Alum In Recurring Role". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on February 9, 2026. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  5. ↑ Frederick, Brittany (April 21, 2020). "Bosch season 6 features Chicago Med and Chicago Justice alums". onechicagocenter.com. One Chicago Center. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  6. ↑ Stanhope, Kate (January 10, 2017). "'Law & Order' Star to Reprise Role on 'Chicago Justice'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  7. ↑ Petski, Denise (May 8, 2025). "'Reasonable Doubt': Morris Chestnut Returns For Season 3 As Recurring; 6 More Join Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
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