John Joseph Brooks Jr. (December 14, 1923 â€" December 5, 2007) was an
American character actor, best known for portraying Trooper
Vanderbilt, the near-sighted soldier, in F Troop. He was born and died
in Los Angeles, CA and began his acting career after graduating from
high school and had his first speaking part in the 1944 John Wayne
film, The Fighting Seabees. During World War II Brooks put his acting
career on hold and served his country fighting in the South Pacific.
He then returned to California and continued to act mainly as an extra
and in bit parts until he was called to audition for the role of
Vanderbilt. His career spanned some 22 movies and numerous television
appearances over 40 years. His other credits include the films East Of
Eden (1955), Tall Man Riding (1955), The Young Lions (1958), Born
Reckless (1958), Flaming Star (1960), Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964),
Pursuit (1972), The Bad News Bears (1976), Gremlins (1984), and Eye of
the Tiger (1986), and the TV shows Rawhide, The Six Million Dollar
Man, Bewitched, The Munsters, and Cheyenne.His interment is located in
Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery.
American character actor, best known for portraying Trooper
Vanderbilt, the near-sighted soldier, in F Troop. He was born and died
in Los Angeles, CA and began his acting career after graduating from
high school and had his first speaking part in the 1944 John Wayne
film, The Fighting Seabees. During World War II Brooks put his acting
career on hold and served his country fighting in the South Pacific.
He then returned to California and continued to act mainly as an extra
and in bit parts until he was called to audition for the role of
Vanderbilt. His career spanned some 22 movies and numerous television
appearances over 40 years. His other credits include the films East Of
Eden (1955), Tall Man Riding (1955), The Young Lions (1958), Born
Reckless (1958), Flaming Star (1960), Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964),
Pursuit (1972), The Bad News Bears (1976), Gremlins (1984), and Eye of
the Tiger (1986), and the TV shows Rawhide, The Six Million Dollar
Man, Bewitched, The Munsters, and Cheyenne.His interment is located in
Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery.
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