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Martin E. Brooks, Six Million Dollar Man's Bionic Scientist, Dies At 90

Martin E. Brooks, the actor best known for playing the bionic scientist Dr. Rudy Wells in 70s series ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’, has died aged 90.

He died at his home in Studio City, Los Angeles, just a week after his 90th birthday.

Wells took over the role from season three to season five of the show from Alan Oppenheimer, as the physician in charge of the bionic technology behind astronaut Steve Austin, played by Lee Majors.

As well as 'The Six Million Dollar Man’, he also starred in the NBC spin-off show 'The Bionic Woman’ from 1977, becoming the first known actor to play the same role simultaneously on shows airing on different networks.

As well as the series, he also played the role of Wells in three TV movies, 'The Return of the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman’ in 1987, 'Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman’ in 1989 and 'Bionic Ever After?’ in 1994.

Born in the Bronx in New York, he volunteered for service in the US Army, and received the Purple Heart for his injuries sustained during World War II.

After studying drama and winning awards for his off-Broadway performances, he changed his name from Martin Baum to Martin Brooks upon the suggestion of musicals legend Richard Rodgers, of Rodgers and Hammerstein.

He also had roles in shows like 'Knots Landing’, 'Hunter’, 'General Hospital’ and 'McMillan & Wife’, as well as playing Edgar Randolph in 'Dallas’, one of the main suspects in the famous 'who killed J.R.?’ storyline.

Brooks was a writer too, penning two novels, 'Danny Brown’ and 'Roman Candle’, and last year released 'A Life Filled With Love’, an album of songs that he wrote and recorded in the 60s and 70s but never released.

He is survived by his longtime partner Edie Landau.

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Image credits: Rex Features/AP