Biography

Avery Franklin Brooks (born October 2, 1948) is an American actor, director, singer, narrator and educator. He is best known for his television roles as Captain Benjamin Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, as Hawk on Spenser: For Hire and its spinoff A Man Called Hawk, and as Dr. Bob Sweeney in the Academy Award–nominated film American History X. Brooks was born in Evansville, Indiana, and raised in Gary, Indiana. He attended Oberlin College, where he studied music and theater. After graduating from Oberlin, he moved to New York City to pursue his acting career. Brooks's first professional acting role was in the play "The Great White Hope" in 1970. He went on to appear in a number of Broadway productions, including "The Wiz" and "A Chorus Line". He also starred in the television miniseries "Roots" in 1977. In 1993, Brooks was cast as Captain Benjamin Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The series ran for seven seasons, and Brooks's performance as Sisko was critically acclaimed. He won a Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television in 1995. After Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ended, Brooks continued to work in television and film. He starred in the series "Shark" from 2006 to 2008, and he appeared in the films "American History X" and "The Score". Brooks is also a talented singer and musician. He has released two albums, "Song of My People" and "The Way I Feel". He is also a gifted director, and he has directed a number of theater productions and television episodes.

Photos

Filmography

View Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

1993Series
7.9
View Gargoyles
Gargoyles

Gargoyles

1994Series
8.1
View Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

2026Series
5.4
View Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

1995Series
6.0
View American History X
American History X

American History X

1998Film
8.3
View Spenser: For Hire
Spenser: For Hire

Spenser: For Hire

1985Series
6.8
View 15 Minutes
15 Minutes

15 Minutes

2001Film
5.9
View The Big Hit
The Big Hit

The Big Hit

1998Film
6.0
View The Captains Close Up
The Captains Close Up

The Captains Close Up

2013Series
6.4
View A Man Called Hawk
A Man Called Hawk

A Man Called Hawk

1989Series
6.6
View Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond

Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond

1996Film
5.8
View The Captains
The Captains

The Captains

2011Film
6.4