After moving to the United States in 1924, Brook became one of the major stars for Paramount Pictures in the late silent era.

Career highlights include Josef Von Sternberg's Underworld (1927) and Shanghai Express (1932); as well as being the first actor to portray Sherlock Holmes in a 'talkie'.

[1] He attended Dulwich College because of his father's desire for him to be a lawyer, but family financial problems caused him to leave at age 15.

Von Sternberg later featured him in one of Brook's best remembered appearances, playing opposite Marlene Dietrich in Shanghai Express (1932).

[2] In 1943, he adapted the comedy On Approval by Frederick Lonsdale and wrote, produced, directed and starred in the film with Beatrice Lillie, Googie Withers and Roland Culver.

[citation needed] Brook starred as Josiah Bolton in the comedy Second Threshold from 2 January 1951 until 21 April 1951.