
Acting · Evansville, Indiana, USA · Born October 2, 1948
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.
TVStar Trek: Starfleet Academy
2026
as Benjamin Sisko (voice)
MovieWhat We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
2018
as Self
MovieMysteries of Ancient China
2016
as Self - Presenter
TVThe Captains Close Up
2013
as Self
MovieThe Captains
2011
as Self
TVFor Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots
2010
as Self - Narrator
Drain the Ocean
2009
as Narrator
MovieGod v. Satan: The Final Battle
2008
as Himself (Narrator)
MovieStar Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier
2007
as Self
MovieOthello
2005
as Othello
MovieDeep Space Nine: A Bold Beginning
2003
as Himself
MovieTrials and Tribble-ations: Uniting Two Legends
2003
as Self
MovieLand of the Mammoth
2001
as Self - Narrator
Movie15 Minutes
2001
as Leon Jackson
MovieSavage Sun
1999
as Narrator (voice)
MovieAmerican History X
1998
as Sweeney
MovieThe Greatest Places
1998
as Narrator (voice)
MovieAfrica's Elephant Kingdom
1998
as Narrator
MovieThe Big Hit
1998
as Paris
MovieStar Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
1996
as Self
MovieStar Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Way of the Warrior
1995
as Benjamin Sisko
MovieSpenser: A Savage Place
1995
as Hawk
TVHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
as King Maximus (voice)
MovieThe New Explorers: The Science of Star Trek
1995
as Self
MovieSpenser: The Judas Goat
1994
as Hawk
TVGargoyles
1994
as Nokkar (voice)
MovieSpenser: Pale Kings and Princes
1994
as Hawk
MovieSpenser: Ceremony
1993
as Hawk
MovieThe Ernest Green Story
1993
as Rev. Lawson
MovieStar Trek: Deep Space Nine - Behind the Scenes
1993
as Himself
MovieStar Trek: Deep Space Nine - Emissary
1993
as Benjamin Sisko
TVStar Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993
as Benjamin Sisko
MovieSolomon Northup's Odyssey
1991
as Solomon Northup
TVA Man Called Hawk
1989
MovieRoots: The Gift
1988
as Cletus Moyer
MovieUncle Tom's Cabin
1987
as Uncle Tom
MovieMoments without Proper Names
1987
as Self
TVSpenser: For Hire
1985
as Hawk
MovieFinnegan Begin Again
1985
as Dude on Bus
TVAmerican Playhouse
1982
as Solomon Northup