Conrad Brooks | |
|---|---|
 Brooks in The Beast of Yucca Flats (1961) | |
| Born | Conrad Biedrzycki January 3, 1931 |
| Died | December 6, 2017 (aged 86) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1948–2016 |
| Spouse | Ruth Marilyn Biedrzycki |
| Children | 1 |
Conrad Brooks (born Conrad Biedrzycki; January 3, 1931 – December 6, 2017) was an American actor. He was known for his many appearances in the 1950s films of cult director Ed Wood.
Born Conrad Biedrzycki on January 3, 1931, in Baltimore, Maryland, Brooks was the son of Polish immigrants, Victor and Katherine Biedrzycki. His father was a baker. Brooks was one of eight children.
He moved to Hollywood, California, in 1948 at age 17, along with his brothers Harry and Ted, attempting to break into acting. Brooks first encountered the legendary filmmaker Ed Wood in a donut shop, and eagerly agreed to appear in a short western film Wood was planning to direct. Brooks entered show business by acting in such Ed Wood cult classics as Plan 9 from Outer Space, Glen or Glenda, Bride of the Monster, Night of the Ghouls, The Sinister Urge and Jail Bait. He appeared in more Ed wood films than any other actor in fact. He also appeared briefly as an airplane pilot in The Beast of Yucca Flats (1961).[1]
Brooks took a break from acting during the 1960s and 1970s, but due to the later revived interest in the films of Ed Wood, he re-emerged in the 1980s and became a prolific actor in low-budget films. He even went on to write, produce and direct several films.[2]
Along with Gregory Walcott, Brooks appeared briefly in Tim Burton's film Ed Wood, playing a bartender, while his own character was played by Brent Hinckley. Brooks was a frequent guest at the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention and I-Con at Stony Brook University, where he signed autographs for his fans.
He made a cameo appearance as the pianist for the Sound The Surrender music video by heavy metal band, Darkest Hour.[3] When The Sinister Urge episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 was released on DVD, Brooks filmed a special introduction. Brooks was interviewed in two documentaries about Ed Wood, Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The Plan 9 Companion (1992) and The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr. (1995).
Brooks teamed up again with filmmaker Jonathan M. Parisen on two films, Toilet Gator and Space Vampires from the Planet Blood, and a television show, Blast Corrigan: Rocketship To Earth.
Brooks was founder and owner of Conrad Brooks Productions, which has produced the Gypsy Vampire series, starring Bruce "Porkchop" Lindsay as Count Lugo, as well as the "Jan-Gel" film trilogy.
Brooks continued acting well into his 80s, making an appearance in a 2015 remake of Plan 9 from Outer Space. He made his last appearance in the 2016 film Don't Let the Devil in.
Brooks was married to Ruth Marilyn Biedrzycki (December 21, 1923 - April 8, 2016) from the late 1960s until her death. They had one daughter.
Brooks, who suffered from prostate cancer, died of complications from sepsis on December 6, 2017, in Martinsburg, West Virginia, at age 86.[4][5]
