Avery Brooks Biography

Avery Brooks is an accomplished actor, director, musician and teacher. Since 1982, he has performed to critical acclaim the title role in the Philip Hayes Dean play, Paul Robeson. From 1993 to 1996, Mr. Brooks served as Artistic Director of the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Brooks was the first African-American MFA graduate in acting and directing from Rutger’s University and is currently a tenured professor of theater at the Mason Gross School of the Arts. He has also taught at Case Western Reserve University and Oberlin College and received honorary doctorates from Toogaloo College, Buffalo State College, Oberlin College and Indiana University. Mr. Brooks’ honors include induction into the American College of Theater fellows and the Lifelong Commitment to Arts and Education award from Young Audiences of Washington, DC.