Avery Brooks is Captain Benjamin Sisko, the Starfleet Captain in charge of the Deep Space Nine space station. Sisko is a single parent to his son, Jake, since his wife was killed in an attack during the famous encounter with the Borg -- the bloodiest battle ever recorded in Federation history. Brooks commented on being a part of the Star Trek legacy, "Since its inception, Star Trek has always provided a positive message of life in the future." He continues, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine provides an opportunity to reinforce how critical it is to find a way to live together."
During the show's fifth season hiatus, Brooks starred in New Line Cinema's "American History X" co-starring Edward Norton and Edward Furlong which is scheduled for an October release. Additionally, he recently co-starred with Mark Wahlberg and Lou Diamond Phillips in the Tri-Star feature film "The Big Hit" which was produced by Wesley Snipes and John Woo.
Born and raised in Indiana, Avery attended Oberlin College, Indiana University and later Rutgers University where he was the first black MFA graduate in acting and directing. His accomplishments were just beginning as Avery continued to develop into a distinguished and respected actor, director, musician, and teacher. In 1993, Avery was named Artistic Director of the National Black Arts Festival. Held biannually since 1988, in Atlanta, Georgia, the internationally renowned festival celebrates African-American culture and people of African descent.
Prior to joining Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Brooks performed to critical acclaim in the title role in the Phillip Hayes Dean play "Paul Robeson." Since 1982, he has performed the role at the Westwood Playhouse in Los Angeles, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and at the Longacre Theater on Broadway in 1995. He portrayed Robeson in "Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been?," both on and off-Broadway.
A veteran of numerous theatre productions, Brooks has appeared in the lead role in Shakespeare's "Othello" at Washington, D.C.'s Folger Theatre, and sang the title role in Anthony Davis' opera, "X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X." Avery has hosted several documentaries including the award winning, "The Musical Legacy of Roland Hayes." His television credits include the starring role in the ABC series, A Man Called Hawk, and the co-starring role with Robert Urich in the ABC series Spenser: For Hire, a role which he reprised in four two hour movies for Lifetime.
Avery has done extensive work with the Smithsonian Institute's Program in Black American Culture. He was seen in the title role in the film "Solomon Northup's Odyssey" for PBS' American Playhouse. Avery earned a Cable ACE Award nomination for his portrayal of Uncle Tom in Showtime's production of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Brooks also serves as narrator for the large format, IMAX film, "Africa's Elephant Kingdom."
Since 1972, Avery has been affiliated with the prestigious Rutgers University where he is a tenured professor of theatre at the Mason Gross School of the Arts. In 1993, Avery was inducted into the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni. He has also taught at Oberlin College and Case Western Reserve University.