Jerome Ro Brooks: Building a Brand (and a Legacy) Day by Day

 

by Cyrus Webb

“Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” ~ Prov. 22:29, English Standard Version

When you are doing the work and using your God-given gifts, you can’t help but we noticed and recognized for it. For over a decade I have had the pleasure of watching Jerome Ro Brooks walk in his gifts and share them with the world. I first became aware of him thanks to the hit Tyler Perry show The Haves and the Have Nots on OWN. After that he would go on to write a book and grow his business and brand.

Ro was honored by his hometown with a street sign in his childhood neighborhood that bares his name, "Jerome Ro Brooks Way" in 2024. That same year he was also honored by Donelle Dadigan (President/Founder) of The Hollywood Museum which resides inside of the iconic Max Factor building, by having one of his wardrobe selections from his time on Showtimes Shameless, being included with their Black History Month exhibit.

Going into 2025, he was preparing projects for himself and his team. We discussed his journey and the rewards coming from it in this revealing conversation.

 Ro, it’s been 10 years since we initially connected. I want to talk about this decade for you, man. What has it been like for you to see your work recognized?

It’s been an awesome feeling. I have to consistently pinch yourself. Just being an actor and having people fall in love with your characters on different shows is humbling. It’s all a dream come true. I’m grateful.

 Have you always known that you were going to do something that would touch the world the way you have?

I always did. I always felt like I was going to do something different than the norm. Different from what my neighborhood offered me. Growing up most of my homeboys participated in a lot of different things. I felt like that wasn't for me. I knew that God had something for me.

 I never felt any pressure to do certain things. I never smoked in my life, never had any kind of extracurricular activity like drugs. Never drank beer or wine. None of it. That has been the case for my entire life, so I know it has to be a reason.

 

And that path has led to great things for you. The shirt we have seen you wearing highlights one of the achievements you have had, that being Jerome Ro Brooks Way. You posted about it on social media, but what was it like for you to get that kind of recognition?

I'm trying to tell you it was amazing. Like, I really can't even put it into words how I feel daily about this. Just imagine I'm from one of the most violent cities in the world. It's not any to be proud of. Crime is really high, and I'm from a neighborhood that birthed a lot of that. A lot of my friends got killed on those same streets right in front of this neighborhood. And I'm from this block!

Me at five years old, living up the street, would have never imagined that I would have a street named after me. And then to have friends call me and say, ‘Bro, I'm on Jerome Ro Brooks way.’ <laugh> Man, look, I'm tripping. I'm still tripping. I'm gonna always trip over this.

 That has to feel good to know that the hard work is paying off. What would you say was that moment for you? As I mentioned a lot of us, for us it was the Oprah Winford Network work with Tyler Perry being on that show. But what has been that moment for you that you have felt like, ‘Okay. I'm where I belong.’

Hmm. I'm where I belong... Honestly, I felt like it when I did my first extra job.

 And here you are. And for those who don't know, not only are you an actor that has been recognized for his work. You also have a management company, you’re a bestselling author and you teach acting classes.

You said you grew up knowing you were meant for something. Have you always known that you were also going to pour into others, reaching back and sharing what you’ve learned?

 I did, but I didn't know how at the same time. When I was 17, I started a management company. Not knowing what I was doing, but I knew I could do it, because I used to rap and dance. When I was coming up along with my peers, I seemed to have the information, or at least they thought I did. Everybody would come to me asking me for information. So I started my company because I felt like maybe I do have something.  I was helping rap acts develop their skills, writing raps. Even with R&B groups I was helping them do their thing, setting up their shows, etc.

 As time went on in my life, I was always the person that people would turn to. So in this business—the  acting business--that's  what happened. Everybody, even actors that were already on, would come to me and ask me things. They had questions, and I was giving them the answers… but I feel like I wanted to give more.  That's how it all started. I think I'm a source. I feel like something that people connect into.

 

That is something that comes through in a lot of what you've done, because I remember just in following you over the years that you've always been there trying to, not only to do your thing, but also to support other people.

  I want to ask you about your support system and the people you surround yourself with. I have found in my life that you need people that are going to push you, not keep you from where you’re meant to be. What has that been like for you to recognize those groups of people that will push you, but also that really will drain you if you let them?

Well, as I said before, I'm from Baltimore, and if you can make it in Baltimore, you can make it anywhere. Because Baltimore's also a multilayered city, you have to think on your feet. I'm from the hood, so you have to be wise. You have to just be alert at all times. And you have to be able to learn how to pick out good people versus bad people.  I learned early on how to decipher who's good and who's bad for me.

 Then coming from Baltimore to a new place, which is California, I mean, this is the place for acting and all entertainment. People come out here for all kinds of reasons. You got scammers that come out here just because they know a lot of actors are here. Those actors are looking for success.  So those scammers, they come, too, because they feel like we can pitch an idea to these guys and make them do what we want to do because they're green and they don't know the industry. Si you have to be aware of all that.

 When I came out to LA it wasn't really hard figuring it out. I’m not the type that needs to be around a lot of people. I feel good by myself. I don't need a lot of people to validate me. And I got God, so I’m good.

 The other side of that, Ro, is that a lot of individuals want to work with you. What has it been like for you to have that trust from people?

So now fast forward all these years later, after writing the book, I love to find ways to do something for myself that can also overflow and help someone else. So I always create different businesses where I'm a part of it, and I can help a lot of other people. So, we did the book, How to Go From Extra to Acting. Then I did acting classes. After that people were constantly asking me, ‘How do I do this?’ ‘How do I get an agent?’ ‘What does SAG mean?’ ‘What is a union?’

 Thinking about those questions I was asking myself ‘What else can I do? What's the most important thing actors need that's hard to come by?’ Then it came to me: Boom! It was management and an agent. I said I'm going to start one of the two. And I said, which one fits me best? I know agents to me are more an acquaintance, but managers are more like your friends. You talk to your managers a lot more than you do your agents. I like to talk to people, so I felt management would be the best arena for me; and it's been great.

 So that leads us to my last question. What's next? You've done so much. What should we be on the lookout for next?

We're still building. Brooks Talent Management is the name of the management company. We’ve been going five years strong now, working with over 200 clients.  We are opening developing more departments. We just opened a storyboard department, so we have signed storyboard artists now. We’re signing directors, writers, actors, stunt professionals, dancers and choreographers and even Instagram influencers. We’re definitely broadening our horizon. The more we run into people, the more we feel like we could help them be incorporated into the company.

 No matter what Jerome “Ro” Brooks does next, we know it will continue to not just add to his resume but remind people of the possibilities ahead.

www.robrooks.com

www.instagram.com/robrooks_/