Martin E. Brooks, best known for playing the role of scientist Dr. Rudy Wells in the ABC 1970s television series "The Six Million Dollar Man" and its spinoff "The Bionic Woman," died on Monday in Los Angeles at the age of 90, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Brooks died from natural causes in Studio City, confirmed Hollywood producer Jon Landau before adding that Brooks was his mother, Edie Landau's "soulmate" for two decades. The couple grew up together in Wilkes-Barre, Pa and were childhood friends, who reconnected in 1993 after the death of her husband.
Brooks had a successful career in television with roles in "Dallas," "Knots Landing," "McMillan & Wife," "Hunter," "General Hospital" and "Cagney & Lacey." Brooks also appeared in films like "Colossus: The Forbin Project" and "The Man," according to Entertainment Weekly.
Born in the Bronx in New York City, Brooks moved to Wilkes-Barre with his family when he was 10 years old. After high school, he served in the military during World War II with the 11th Airborne Division.
After the end of the war, Brooks attended Penn State University and studied theater in New York City, where he worked on Broadway for a while before heading to Hollywood.
In 2014, he released his debut CD titled "A Life Filled With Love," a compilation of songs he wrote and recorded between the 1960s and 70s, according to Variety. He also penned two novels, "Danny Brown" and "Roman Candle," and his play "Flo and Joe" was optioned for a Broadway production.
"It's not so much how Marty approached his work so much as how he approached life, which was full of vim and vigor. He had the most positive attitude," Jon Landau said.
Brooks is survived by Edie Landau, his nephews Charles and Danny and grandnephews Ted, Mike, Mark, Jay and Aaron.
