Background
Youngest of five children, Hooks was born in Foggy Bottom, Washington, District of Columbia, the son of Bertha (née Ward), a seamstress, and Edward Hooks, who worked on the railroad tracks, where he died.
Youngest of five children, Hooks was born in Foggy Bottom, Washington, District of Columbia, the son of Bertha (née Ward), a seamstress, and Edward Hooks, who worked on the railroad tracks, where he died.
With a career as a producer and political activist to his cr, he is most recognizable to the public for his over 100 roles in films and television 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? He was the first African American lead on a television drama, the original North.Y.P.D. In 1968 Hooks was the host of the new public affairs television program, Like lieutenant Is.
Most famously, Hooks, along with Douglas Turner Ward,founded The Negro Ensemble Company (Nippon Electric Corporation).
He then brought Gerald Krone in as Production Manager. The Nippon Electric Corporation is credited with the launch of the careers of many major black artists of all disciplines, while creating a body of performance literature over the last thirty years, providing the backbone of African-American theatrical classics.
He soon brought in Doctor Barbara Ann Teer to teach classes and develop the workshop. Significant roles for which Hooks is known include Reeve Scott in, Mr.
T. in the blaxploitation film, grandpa Gene Donovan in the comedy, and Fleet Admiral Morrow in.
He also appeared on television in an episode of the National Broadcasting Company crime drama series The Eddie Capra Mysteries in 1978 and portrayed Doctor Walcott in the 1980s television series Dynasty.