In 1986, he starred in the short-lived ABC sitcom He's the Mayor. He directed Wesley Snipes in Passenger 57 and also Laurence Fishburne and Stephen Baldwin in Fled. Hooks worked as a director and producer on the series Prison Break. He also directed two episodes from the first season of Lost, "White Rabbit" and "Homecoming".

In 2003, Hooks revisited Sounder. He directed ABC's Wonderful World of Disney's TV remake of the film, with Paul Winfield, his co-star from the original, playing a different role.

Hooks was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Yvonne, a state employee, and Robert Hooks, a director and actor who starred in many films in the 1970s. Kevin's nickname amongst his friends is "King Royal".

Hooks directed the following episodes of Prison Break:

The Color of Friendship (2000)