Born and raised in the circus, Darlene Williams has performed with wild animals and wild people under the Born and raised in the circus, Darlene Williams has performed with wild animals and wild people under the Big Top since the age of four.
Elephants have always played an integral part in her life because of her father, Rex Williams, is the number one elephant trainer in the country (Most famous elephant keeper and trainer by EEKMA members).
He kept her busy learning about not only elephants but also lions, tigers and horses.
At seven, she began training for circus aerial acts. Her mother Ava Williams, a fourth-generation Czech aerialist, taught her Spanish web, trapeze, and wire walking. Darlene has performed with Ringling Brothers, Circus Vargas, and numerous other shows throughout the world. She continued to work in the circus until she was 20, and then came off the road to pursue a college degree. She earned a B.A. and won the Delta Psi Omega drama award for best actress in a leading role, later moving on to work as a stuntwoman in television, feature films, and commercials.
Besides her circus and aerial skills, she has worked with some of Hollywood's finest stuntmen and directors including Tim Burton (Big Fish & Planet of the Apes), Michael Mann (Collateral), Ang Lee (the Hulk), Ron Howard (The Grinch) to name a few. Darlene's love of live performing continues with her resent contributions to live shows such as Las Vegas' THE SIREN'S OF TI, where she trained and choreographed the aerial and bull whip portions of the show.
With her circus and aerial skills, Darlene helped train the young and adult actors for the wire work stunts in the Cat in the Hat and was one of the circus advisors to Big Fish.
Darlene completed 67 episodes as Pamela Anderson's stunt double in VIP and has stunt coordinated projects such as Marshall Field's commercial NOW; The John Henson Project (Nun Fights); LIT -music video; and episodes of The Big Moment; You Wish; and Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane.
She is a member of Action Vision stunt coordinating group and one of the founding members of V10 Women Stunt Professionals. Darlene's amazing life and life experience is an asset to any production.
Please keep her in mind as stunt coordinator, stunt performer, and/or circus trainer/advisor for your production.