Martin E. Brooks was a renowned actor, best known for his iconic portrayal of Dr. Rudy Wells on the 1970s ABC series The Six Million Dollar Man and its spin-off, The Bionic Woman. Born Martin Baum in the Bronx, he relocated to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, at the age of 10, where his father managed the Blue Bell Dress Factory.
Following high school, Brooks honorably served as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army, earning a Purple Heart during his tenure. He later pursued his education at Penn State University and attended Erwin Piscator's Dramatic Workshop, where he received an off-Broadway best actor award for his role in Wolfgang Borchert's Outside the Door.
It was during this period in his career that he adopted the stage name Martin Brooks, following a suggestion from his producer, Richard Rodgers. Brooks's impressive Broadway career featured roles in notable productions such as John Steinbeck's Burning Bright and Arthur Miller's Enemy of the People, earning him a Theatre World Award.
He also made memorable appearances on television shows like Knots Landing, Hunter, McMillan & Wife, and Cagney & Lacey, with a notable role as Edgar Randolph in the popular series Dallas. In addition to his television and stage work, Brooks portrayed Dr. Arthur Bradshaw on General Hospital and appeared in films like Colossus: The Forbin Project.
He co-owned the Tracy Roberts Acting School and actively participated in Theatre West. A talented musician, Brooks released a CD titled A Life Filled With Love in 2014. He also authored two novels, and his play Flo and Joe was considered for Broadway production.
Person biography:
Martin E. Brooks was born Martin Baum in the Bronx, New York.