Has cast actor Zak Santiago in sixteen of his films. The character Santiago played in their first film together (Ladies Night) was named "Gates". In Brooks' first directorial effort, Perfect Sisters, Santiago played a police detective Brooks decided to name "Gates".
To honor his grandfather, Raymond Ziff, Brooks has worked his name into every film and series he's Produced and/or Directed since his death in 1996. He's been a judge, store name, cereal box, candy company, doctor on a prescription and dozens more.
Appears in the final tag of The Ultimate Christmas Present, for the Disney Channel, as one of weatherman Peter Scolari's nerdy students at The North Pole.