William Brickell; Miami stuntman
Hyfler/Rosner
boats evolved into a career as a Hollywood stuntman, dies at age 46.;
BYLINE: BY JENNIFER MOONEY; jmo...@herald.com
Since childhood, William ''Butch'' Brickell wanted to be in the movies. He
became one of Miami's best-known local stuntmen, landing roles in movies
such as 2 Fast 2 Furious, Bad Boysand The Specialist.
Brickell, the great-great-grandson of Miami pioneers William and Mary
Brickell, died in his sleep Monday at his Coral Gables home. He was 46.
Neither the medical examiner's office nor the funeral home would release the
cause of death.
No job was ever too big or small for the thrill-seeking Brickell, who
friends say was always willing to take part in anything that involved fast
cars, fast boats, jet skis and motorcycles.
''Basically, I've always jumped in over my head, and somehow I survive,''
Brickell told The Herald in 1996.
Brickell was born and raised in Coral Gables, the only child of Marge and
the late William B. Brickell.
After graduating from Ransom Everglades School, Brickell took over his
father's property management business, said his childhood friend Matthew
Borek.
Brickell, who owned Brickell Shipping and a production facility near the
Miami River, portrayed the phone man in Mr. Nanny, a 1993 movie starring
Hulk Hogan.
A year later, he had his first job as a stuntman in The Specialistalongside
Sylvester Stallone and Sharon Stone, according to the Internet Movie
Database website.
Most of his stunt work, friends say, was driving cars and trucks in excess
of 100 miles and piloting speeding boats.
''Whenever any of the large feature shows or movies would come to [Miami],
he'd be in it,'' said Melanie Moore, a location scout who worked with
Brickell. ''He was always doing what he loved.''
Brickell went on to appear in The Crew, Fair Gameand Two Much.
He never raced cars professionally, but he owned racing cars. In 1996,
Brickell jumped at the chance to participate in the Indianapolis 500.
While driving about 150 miles per hour during a test run in Orlando before
the race, Brickell's car slammed into a wall, Borek said. He cracked two
vertebrae in his neck.
Although he was in bad shape, he hand-delivered 25 pounds of Joe's stone
crabs to rescue workers, Borek said.
Despite his accident, Brickell continued to be a risk-taker.
His most recent stunt work included filming during CSI Miami'ssecond season,
when he was part of a crew that raced boats near Bill Baggs Cape Florida
State Park, Moore said.
In last year's controversial drag-racing movie 2 Fast 2 Furious, Brickell
did stunt work in a few scenes, including one where a truck driver sped
semis into police cars, Borek said.
Brickell is survived by his mother and cousins.
Services will be at 10 a.m. today at the Woodlawn Park Cemetery and
Mausoleum, 3260 SW Eighth St., Miami.