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John Joseph Brooks Jr. 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.
Birth Name
John Joseph Brooks Jr.
Born
Friday, 14 December 1923
Died
Wednesday, 05 December 2007
Actor Filmography
Title | Character | Year |
---|
Vendetta | Parking Attendant | 1986 |
Eye of the Tiger | Jake | 1986 |
Gremlins | Dave Meyers (Santa) / Santa | 1984 |
The Fall Guy | (as Joseph Brooks) | 1981 |
The Big Bus | Bus Passenger | 1976 |
The Bad News Bears | Umpire | 1976 |
Bite the Bullet | 1975 | |
The Six Million Dollar Man | Janitor / Doorman | 1974 |
Pursuit | Cop | 1972 |
The Brotherhood of the Bell | Minor Role | 1970 |
Actor Filmography
Title | Character | Year |
---|
Vendetta | Parking Attendant | 1986 |
Eye of the Tiger | Jake | 1986 |
Gremlins | Dave Meyers (Santa) / Santa | 1984 |
The Fall Guy | (as Joseph Brooks) | 1981 |
The Big Bus | Bus Passenger | 1976 |
The Bad News Bears | Umpire | 1976 |
Bite the Bullet | 1975 | |
The Six Million Dollar Man | Janitor / Doorman | 1974 |
Pursuit | Cop | 1972 |
The Brotherhood of the Bell | Minor Role | 1970 |
Paint Your Wagon | Miner | 1969 |
Love, American Style | Santa (segment "Love and the Christmas Punch") | 1969 |
Hotel | Photographer | 1967 |
The Rare Breed | Bartender | 1966 |
Batman | Fat Man / Visor | 1966 |
I Dream of Jeannie | Crane Driver | 1965 |
F Troop | Trooper Vanderbilt | 1965 |
Harlow | Assistant Director | 1965 |
Cheyenne Autumn | Bartender | 1964 |
Slattery's People | Sam Fancher | 1964 |
Bewitched | Umpire | 1964 |
Kisses for My President | Photographer | 1964 |
Robin and the 7 Hoods | Gisborne's Hood | 1964 |
Advance to the Rear | Pvt. Luke Bannerman | 1964 |
The Munsters | The 1st Workman | 1964 |
4 for Texas | Casino Worker | 1963 |
Temple Houston | (as Joseph Brooks) | 1963 |
Grindl | Man | 1963 |
Critic's Choice | Catcher | 1963 |
Ensign O'Toole | Sailor | 1962 |
The Dakotas | Seth / Townsman | 1962 |
Rome Adventure | Beatnik in Cafe Brawl | 1962 |
The Couch | Trucker | 1962 |
Bachelor Flat | Driver | 1962 |
The Joey Bishop Show | Soldier | 1961 |
Man-Trap | Minor Role | 1961 |
Flaming Star | Man #5 at Crossing | 1960 |
Bourbon Street Beat | Guard / Roustabout | 1959 |
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis | Nitro Truck Worker | 1959 |
Blue Denim | Caterer's Man | 1959 |
The Young Philadelphians | Photographer | 1959 |
Rawhide | Clerk / Deputy / Heckler / Sentry / Townsman | 1959 |
I Want to Live! | Reporter | 1958 |
Born Reckless | Cowboy | 1958 |
Lawman | Barfly | 1958 |
Yancy Derringer | Townsman | 1958 |
Onionhead | Sailor | 1958 |
Bronco | Townsman / Race Starter / Poker Player | 1958 |
Wanted: Dead or Alive | Townsman | 1958 |
Rock-a-Bye Baby | Reporter | 1958 |
The Young Lions | Minor Role | 1958 |
The Enemy Below | German Soldier | 1957 |
Bombers B-52 | Soldier | 1957 |
Maverick | Bartender / Bill / Townsman | 1957 |
Sugarfoot | Trooper | 1957 |
Funny Face | Fashion Show Guest | 1957 |
The Girl He Left Behind | Recruit | 1956 |
Santiago | Pike's Man | 1956 |
I Died a Thousand Times | Observer at Accident Scene | 1955 |
Illegal | Reporter | 1955 |
The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing | Juror | 1955 |
The McConnell Story | Store Patron | 1955 |
Cheyenne | Armed Sentry / Courtroom Spectator | 1955 |
Gunsmoke | Poker Player | 1955 |
There's Always Tomorrow | Theatre Patron | 1955 |
Wichita | Townsman | 1955 |
Tall Man Riding | Townsman | 1955 |
The Sea Chase | Seaman | 1955 |
East of Eden | Townsman at Carnival | 1955 |
So Big | Bidder | 1953 |
All American | Football Player | 1953 |
Julius Caesar | Citizen of Rome | 1953 |
By the Light of the Silvery Moon | Soldier | 1953 |
Carson City | Miner | 1952 |
Schlitz Playhouse | Townsman | 1951 |
A Streetcar Named Desire | Worker | 1951 |
Rhubarb | Courtroom Spectator | 1951 |
Best of the Badmen | Townsman | 1951 |
On Moonlight Bay | Carnival Patron | 1951 |
Strangers on a Train | Carnival Patron | 1951 |
Call Me Mister | Soldier | 1951 |
Delinquent Daughters | Customer | 1944 |
Two Girls and a Sailor | Soldier | 1944 |
The Fighting Seabees | Pilot | 1944 |