Martin E. Brooks

Martin E. Brooks (born Martin Baum;[1] November 30, 1925 – December 7, 2015) was an American character actor known for playing scientist Rudy Wells in the television series The Six Million Dollar Man and its spin-off, The Bionic Woman, from 1975 onward (a role originally portrayed by Martin Balsam and then by Alan Oppenheimer).

Martin E. Brooks
Publicity Photo of Martin E. Brooks
Born
Martin Baum

(1925-11-30)November 30, 1925
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 7, 2015(2015-12-07) (aged 90)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1951–1996

Early life

Brooks was born Martin Baum in The Bronx. When he was 10, he moved with his family to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.[2] After high school, he volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army, became a paratrooper with the 11th Airborne Division and was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries received during World War II.[2] He attended Penn State University[2] and enrolled at the Dramatic Workshop of the New School for Social Research in New York City.[3][4] He won the off-Broadway best actor award for his performance in Outside the Door and changed his name to Martin Brooks, following the advice of producer Richard Rodgers.[1][2]

Career

Theatre

In 1959, Brooks starred in Saul Levitt's hit play The Andersonville Trial with Brian Donlevy and Charles Durning.[2] He was very proud of his theatre work that included An Enemy of the People and I Am a Camera, as well as the actors with whom he appeared, including Julie Harris and Barbara Bel Geddes.[5] Brooks was also in John Steinbeck's Burning Bright as Victor with Kent Smith as Joe Saul, Barbara Bel Geddes as Mordeen, and Howard Da Silva as Friend Ed[6][7][8][9] which he had adapted from his 1950 novel of the same name.[10]

Television

In the 1950s, Brooks appeared in The Philco–Goodyear Television Playhouse.In the 1960s, he appeared in Combat!.[5] In the 1972–73 TV season, he had a recurring role as Deputy D.A. Chapman in McMillan & Wife.[11] In the fall of 1977, Brooks and Richard Anderson (as Oscar Goldman) became the first known actors to portray the same characters as regulars simultaneously on two different networks. NBC picked up The Bionic Woman after the series had been cancelled by ABC. ABC continued to air The Six Million Dollar Man. Brooks had, by that time, been promoted to series regular on both series. The unusual situation lasted only one season as the two series were cancelled by their respective networks in the spring of 1978.[11]

Brooks reprised the role of Wells in three television movies: The Return of the Six-Million-Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman (1987), Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman (1989) and Bionic Ever After? (1994). His other television roles include in Mike Snow in Hunter, Arthur Bradshaw in General Hospital,[1] Car 54, Where Are You?, Gunsmoke (“The Lure”-1967), Mission: Impossible, Night Gallery, Love, American Style, The Mod Squad,[11] and Edgar Randolph in the soap opera Dallas, in a story arc involving J.R. Ewing.[12] Brooks also guest-starred in an episode of The Silent Force in 1970.[13] He appeared in Knots Landing as Ted Burton in the 1990s.[5]

Writing

Brooks wrote two novels: Danny Brown and Roman Candle.[2] His play Flo and Joe was optioned for a Broadway production and received several workshop productions at the Actors Studio and at Theatre West.[2]

Personal life and death

According to Jon Landau, Brooks was the "soulmate" of Landau's mother, Edie, for over 20 years. They were friends as children and reconnected in 1993 after her husband died.[1] Brooks was friends with Charles Durning when they met in 1959 in Saul Levitt's hit play The Andersonville Trial until Durning's death in 2012.[2]

Brooks died on December 7, 2015, of natural causes at his home in Studio City, Los Angeles, one week after his 90th birthday.[1][3]

Awards and honors

Brooks won the Theatre World Award and the Donaldson Award for his role in Burning Bright.[14]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1957 Johnny Gunman Johnny G.1 Drama film written and directed by Art Ford [15]
1970 Colossus: The Forbin Project Dr. Jefferson J. Johnson1
[16][17]
1972 The Man Wheeler's Lawyer
[18][19]
1994 T-Force Dr. Jon Gant Science fiction directed by Richard Pepin
1996 Street Gun Man thrown off the roof Thriller film directed by Travis Milloy
(final film role)

Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1951 Sure as Fate1 Guest Episode: "The Rabbit" (S 1:Ep 17) [4]
The Philco–Goodyear Television Playhouse Guest Episode: "Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal" (S 3:Ep 41)
Fireside Theatre Guest Episode: "A Little Night Music" (S 3:Ep 41)
1952 Suspense Harry Raymond Episode: "Remember Me?" (S 4:Ep 45) [4]
Joan of Arc1 Guest Made-for-TV Movie2 [20]
1953 Suspense Meros Leckow Episode: "The Man Who Cried Wolf" (S 5:Ep 33) [4]
Campbell Summer Soundstage1 Guest Episode: "Deception" (S 2:Ep 6)
Studio One in Hollywood Guest Episode: "The Storm" (S 5:Ep 50) [4]
Armstrong Circle Theatre1 Guest Episode: "The Honor of Littorno" (S 4:Ep 10)
1954 Suspense1 Guest Episode: "Once a Killer" (S 6:Ep 43)
Studio One in Hollywood Stephano1 Episode: "The Cliff" (S 6:Ep 52)
The Philco–Goodyear Television Playhouse Guest Episode: "Time of Delivery" (S 7:Ep 4)
1955 Justice1 Guest Episode: "Cry Wolf" (S 2:Ep 15)
Armstrong Circle Theatre1 Guest Episode: "Leap for Freedom" (S 5:Ep 31) [4]
Climax! Guest
[21][22]
Studio One in Hollywood Paul1 Episode: "Mama's Boy" (S 7:Ep 51) [4]
Peters1 Episode: "Shakedown Cruise" (S 8:Ep 8)
1956 Eye on New York Lt. Jan Kepart1 Episode: "Night of the Auk" (S 1:Ep 1–Pilot)
1957 Armstrong Circle Theatre Aristides Andros Episode: "Have Jacket Will Travel" (S 8:Ep 11)4 [4]
Decoy Larry1 Episode: "Necklace of Glass" (S 1:Ep 9)
True Story Bruce Mansfield1 Episode: "Girl in Hotel" (S 1:Ep 12)
Suspicion1 Guest Episode: "The Sparkle of Diamonds" (S 1:Ep 8)
Armstrong Circle Theatre The Priest1 Episode: "The Shepherd of Paris" (S 8:Ep 7)4 [4]
1957–58 Love of Life Paul Raven Contract role
1958 The United States Steel Hour Martin Mandow1 Episode: "The Charmer" (S 5:Ep 9)
True Story Bill Farrell1 Episode: "22 March 1958" (S 1:Ep 18)
Kraft Television Theatre Mr. Ferguson1 Episode: "Death Wears Many Faces" (S 11:Ep 420
1958 The Secret Storm Skip Curtis Contract role [4]
1959 New York Confidential Sammy Watts Episode: "Broadway Sam" (S 1:Ep 17) [4]
Ralph Episode: "The Skin Game" (S 1:Ep 20)
1960 Sunday Showcase Guest Episode: "The Margaret Bourke White Story" (S 1:Ep 16)
Armstrong Circle Theatre Lewis Benson Episode: "Full Disclosure" (S 10:Ep 7)5 [4]
Dow Hour of Great Mysteries Jack Bailey1
[23]
1961 Way Out The Face1 Episode: "False Face" (S 1:Ep 7)
Car 54, Where Are You? Petrucio3 Episode: "The Taming of Lucille" (S 1:Ep 12) [4]
1962–64 Search for Tomorrow Dr. Everett Moore Contract role
1963 Look Up and Live Jim1 Episode: "The Presence of Death" (S 3:Ep 12)
The DuPont Show of the Week Joe Vanderling Episode: "Diamond Fever" (S 2:Ep 13) [4]
Armstrong Circle Theatre Major Rickert Episode: "The Aggressor Force" (s 13:Ep 17}4
1965 Combat! Corporal MacGowan1 Episode: "The Raider" (S 4:Ep 16)
1966 The Loner Chris Meegan1 Episode: "Pick Me Another Time to Die" (S 1:Ep 24)
Flipper Kent1 Episode: "Flipper's Underwater Museum" (S 2:Ep 27)
The F.B.I. Richard Larken1 Episode: "Anatomy of a Prison Break" (S 2:Ep 10) [4]
1967 Gunsmoke Young1 Episode: "The Lure"
The Fugitive Lieutenant Gould1 Episode: "The Walls of Night" (S 4:Ep 27)
Iron Horse Gilbert Reese1 Episode: "Diablo" (S 2:Ep 1)
The Wild Wild West Franklin Poore Episode: "The Night of the Hangman" (S 3:Ep 7)
1968 The F.B.I. Bobby Devries Episode: "The Predators" (S 3:Ep 25)
Judd, for the Defense Art Barrows Episode: "The Gates of Cerberus" (S 2:Ep 10)
1969 Mission: Impossible Paul Trock Episode: "Illusion" (S 3:Ep 24)
1970 The Silent Force Guest Episode: "The Hero" (S 1:Ep 2)
The Old Man Who Cried Wolf Hudson F. Ewing Made-for-TV Movie directed by Walter Grauman [24]
1971 Night Gallery Doctor Armstrong[25] Episode: "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar / The Last Laurel" (S 1:Ep 6–b) [4]
Storefront Lawyers Kendrick Episode: "This Money Kills Dreams" (S 1:Ep 22)
Love, American Style Guest Episode: "Love and the Anniversary Crisis / Love and the Conjugal Visit / Love and the Dream Burglar / Love and the Hotel Caper / Love and the Monster" (S 3:Ep 2)
Cannon Lewis R. Enders Episode: "Dead Pigeon" (S 1:Ep 8)
The Partners Feeny Episode: "Have I Got an Apartment for You!" (S 1:Ep 10)
The Mod Squad Richard Clark Episode: "Death of a Nobody" (S 4:Ep 13)
1972 Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Pierce Episode: "Smiles from Yesterday" (S 1:Ep 21)
1972–73 McMillan & Wife Deputy D.A. Chapman Recurring [11]
1975–78 The Six Million Dollar Man Dr. Rudy Wells Contract role [3]
1976–78 The Bionic Woman
1981 General Hospital Dr. Arthur Bradshaw Contract role [4]
1983-84 Dallas (1978 TV series) Edgar Randolph 10 episodes
1985 Benson Mr. Burger season 7 episode 6 "$1 million an hour"

References

Notes
  1. ^ Credited as Martin Brooks.
  2. ^ Part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame series.
  3. ^ Uncredited.
  4. ^ Episodes were shown out of production order.
  5. ^ Episode was rerun on July 6, 1960.

Citations
  1. Barnes, Mike (December 7, 2015). "Martin E. Brooks, Actor on 'The Six Million Dollar Man,' Dies at 90". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  2. Dagan, Carmen (December 7, 2015). "Martin E. Brooks, Who Played Dr. Rudy Wells on 'Six Million Dollar Man,' Dies at 90". Variety. Los Angeles: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  3. Gettell, OLiver (December 7, 2015). "Martin E. Brooks, actor on Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman, dies at 90". Entertainment Weekly. New York City: Time Inc. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  4. Lentz III 2016, p. 43.
  5. "Martin E. Brooks of 'Six Million Dollar Man,' 'Bionic Woman,' dies at 90". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Associated Press. December 8, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  6. Billboard 1950, p. 22.
  7. Billboard 1950, p. 59.
  8. McElrath, Jr,, Crisler & Shillinglaw 1996, p. 360.
  9. Benson 1989, p. 286.
  10. Steinbeck 1950, p. 3.
  11. MeTV Staff (December 8, 2015). "R.I.P. MARTIN E. BROOKS". MeTV. Chicago: Weigel Broadcasting. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  12. "Season Six". Dallas Episode Guide. Ultimate Dallas. 2003. Retrieved September 6, 2008.
  13. The Classic TV Archive: The Silent Force
  14. Rayne, Maja (December 7, 2015). "The Six Million Dollar Man Actor Martin E. Brooks Dies At 90: Report". People. United States: Time Inc. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  15. "Johnny Gunman". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  16. "Colossus: The Forbin Project". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  17. Jones, D. F. (1966). Colossus: A Novel of Tomorrow That Could Happen Today. New York City: G. P. Putnam's Sons. ASIN B004V7DZ0U.
  18. "The Man". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  19. Wallace, Irving (1965). The Man (1st ed.). United Kingdom: Cassell. ASIN B004VMWH9A.
  20. "Hallmark hall of fame. Joan of Arc". WorldCat. United States: Online Computer Library Center. September 7, 1952. OCLC 422934231.
  21. Hemingway, Ernest (1929). A Farewell to Arms (The Hemingway Library published in 2012 ed.). New York City: Scribner. ISBN 978-1451658163.
  22. Joshi 2007, p. 89.
  23. "Television". Time. New York City: Time Inc. April 4, 1960. Archived from the original on October 8, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2017. Dow Hour of Great Mysteries (NBC, 9-10 p.m.). The first of a series of classic mysteries adapted for TV. Mary Roberts Rinehart's The Bat stars Helen Hayes and Jason Robards Jr. Host: Joseph Welch.
  24. "The Old Man Who Cried Wolf". Hollywood.com. Boca Raton, Florida: Hollywood.com, LLC. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  25. Skelton & Benson 1998, p. 89.

Sources
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