Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Benjamin Sisko
6. Intensity of the Sisko
Avery Brooks' uniqueness on set was well documented. The Delta Flyers podcast welcomed in guests Terry Farrell and Armin Shimerman to their first DS9 episode with both adding notes on the actor's line delivery.
While his "jazz style" approach to dialogue wasn't something either party was used to, Brooks was also known for his total immersion and emotional attachment to scenes. The late Aron Eisenberg would recount that during filming of Heart of Stone, the Sisko actor was very full on, firmly gripping him as he demanded to know why joining Starfleet was so important for the young Ferengi. While this almost terrified the young actor he chose to roll with the scene, providing one of Nog's defining moments in the show and a good story for conventions everywhere.
During the final confrontation between Dukat and Sisko during What You Leave Behind, the hand to hand was so tight that Brooks almost laid out Marc Alaimo, leading to a suspension of filming while the actor was taken to hospital.
Altman and Gross' The Fifty Year Mission includes reference to a falling out that happened between Brooks and Alexander Siddig. While the book doesn't go into the exact details, Siddig does mention how Brooks could get very angry and that everyone would know about it;
He had a temper and I was not going to mess with that.