Mehcad Jason McKinley Brooks (born October 25, 1980) is an American actor and former fashion model. He is known for his roles as Matthew Applewhite in the second season of ABC's series Desperate Housewives (2005–2006), Jerome in The Game, "Eggs" Benedict Talley in the first and second seasons of HBO's series True Blood, his leading role as Terrance "TK" King in the USA series Necessary Roughness (2011–2013) and James Olsen in the CBS/The CW series Supergirl. From 2022 to 2025, he portrayed one of the lead roles, that of NYPD Detective Jalen Shaw, on the NBC police procedural drama Law & Order.
Early life and education Brooks was born and raised in Austin, Texas, where he attended L.C. Anderson High School. Brooks is the son of Austin American-Statesman editorial writer Alberta Phillips and former pro football player Billy Brooks; his stepfather is lawyer Gary Bledsoe. After graduating from high school in 1999, he attended the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television. He then left to pursue an acting career.
Career Brooks' early work includes being a Calvin Klein underwear model.
In 2004, Brooks played a high school basketball player who was killed by a teammate's father on the series Cold Case (season 1, episode 17). From 2005 to 2006, Brooks played the role of Matthew Applewhite on the ABC TV drama Desperate Housewives. He appeared in Glory Road, portraying Harry Flournoy, an athlete at Texas Western University when the five starting black players beat Kentucky for the national championship. He acted in the 2007 film In the Valley of Elah. He starred opposite Tia Mowry as her boyfriend, Jerome, on the TV series The Game in 2008. In 2009, he appeared on FOX's TV series Dollhouse. Brooks played Benedict "Eggs" Talley in the second season of HBO's True Blood. Beginning January 2010, he appeared as attorney Malcolm Bennet in the now-canceled ABC series The Deep End. He plays the "new boyfriend" in a recent State Farm Insurance television commercial alongside former The Game co-star Gabrielle Dennis.
Brooks appeared in the ABC documentary-style dramedy television series My Generation, which premiered in Fall 2010. The show was canceled after only two episodes. He was among the cast on the USA Network series Necessary Roughness which debuted on June 29, 2011. The show featured Brooks as Terrence "TK" King, a football player for the New York Hawks whose anger issues cause his team to require him to see a therapist. In 2013, Necessary Roughness was cancelled. Brooks guest starred in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode as Prince Miller, a basketball superstar who was molested as a child by his coach, and a guest role on J. J. Abrams' show Alcatraz as a bomb disposal expert. In 2013, Brooks was featured in a public service announcement for the Center for Reproductive Rights.
From the series premiere until his departure in the fourth episode of the fifth season, Brooks played James Olsen on the CBS/The CW drama Supergirl as a series regular.
On October 20, 2017, he released his debut single, "Tears Away".
In 2019, he was announced to portray Jax Briggs for the Mortal Kombat reboot released on April 23, 2021.
In June 2022, it was announced that Brooks would be joining the cast of the long-running crime series Law & Order as Detective Jalen Shaw in season 22.
In the media He appeared in the July 2010 issue of GQ, alongside Emanuela de Paula.
Personal life He is the son of former NFL wide receiver Billy Brooks.
Brooks has stated in an interview with IGN that he is an avid player of video games, including the Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, and Madden series.
His older twin brother, Billy Brooks IV, was a regular on the now defunct Spill.com and currently guests on its successor Double Toasted.
He was in a relationship with Creature co-star Serinda Swan until their break up in 2011.
Filmography
Films Year Title Role Notes 2002 Radimi: Who Stole the Dream Radimi Wadkins 2003 A Token for Your Thoughts The Jock Short 2006 Glory Road Harry Flournoy 2007 In the Valley of Elah Spc. Ennis Long 2008 Fly Like Mercury Hutch 2010 Just Wright Angelo Bembrey 2011 Creature Niles 2012 Magic: The Gathering - The Musical Doug Short 2014 About Last Night Derek 2015 Adulterers Damien 2018 Nobody's Fool Charlie 2020 A Fall from Grace Shannon Delong/Maurice Mills 2021 Mortal KombatJackson "Jax" Briggs 2026 Mortal Kombat II
Television Year Title Role Notes2002 Do Over Shawn Hodges Episode: "Take Me Out of the Ball Game" Malcolm in the Middle Big Kid Episode: "Stupid Girl"2003 Boston Public Russell Clark Recurring cast: season 3 One on One Mustafa Episode: "2 Young, 2 Curious"2004 Cold Case Herman Lester Episode: "The Lost Soul of Herman Lester" Tiger Cruise Kenny TV movie 2005–2006 Desperate Housewives Matthew Applewhite Guest: season 1, main cast: season 2 2006 Ghost Whisperer Justin Cotter Episode: "Giving Up the Ghost" 2007–2008 K-Ville Vin Bear Episode: "Critical Mass" & "Game Night" 2008 The Game Jerome "Jerry" Wright Recurring cast: seasons 2–3 2008–2010 True Blood Benedict "Eggs" Talley Recurring cast: seasons 1–2, guest: season 3 2009 Dollhouse Sam Jennings Episode: "Echoes"2010 The Deep End Malcolm Bennett 6 episodes My Generation Rolly Marks Main cast2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Prince Miller Episode: "Personal Fouls" Alcatraz Matt Tanner Episode: "Paxton Petty" 2011–2013 Necessary Roughness Terrence King 38 episodes 2014 Benched George Grumbeigh Jr. Episode: "Shark, Actually" 2015–2021 Supergirl James Olsen / Guardian Main cast: seasons 1–5, guest: season 6 2022Law & Order: Organized CrimeDet. Jalen ShawGuest Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 2022–2025 Law & Order Main role 2025 And Just Like That Marion Odin Recurring role
Discography
Albums Title Album details May 20TH Released: July 13, 2018 Label: OurMovement Records Format: digital download, streaming
Singles Title Year "Tears Away" 2017 "Stars"2018 "Living Proof" "Night Owls" "Nothing to Lose" "Arrested" "Kepu" "Train" "Ego Talking" "Coupe Windows" "Oceans"2019 "Early Morning Under a Lilac Sky"2020
Awards and nominations Year Award Category TV Show Result2006 Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Desperate Housewives Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2007 rowspan="3" 2010 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series True Blood 2017 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor on a Television Series Supergirl
See also List of male underwear models
References
External links
Interview at LIFETEEN.com