Robert Hooks

Robert Dean "Bobby" Hooks (born April 18, 1937) is an African-American actor of films, television, and stage. With a career as a producer and political activist to his credit, he is most recognizable to the public for his over 100 roles in films and television.

Biography

Early life

Youngest of five children, Hooks was born in Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C., the son of Bertha (née Ward), a seamstress, and Edward Hooks, who worked on the railroad tracks, where he died.

Career

Hooks has been regarded, variously, as a gifted artist who broke the color barriers in stage, film and television before the term "colorblind casting" even existed, and a leading man when there were no African American matinee idols. He originated roles on the New York stage in such classics as Dutchman, A Taste of Honey and Where's Daddy? for which he won the Theatre World Award. He was the first African American lead on a television drama, the original N.Y.P.D.

In 1968 Hooks was the host of the new public affairs television program, Like It Is.