Alex seen here as one of the San Monique Police motorcycle riders
Alexander Andrew Brown was born on the 10th of July, 1941, in Jacksonville, Florida.
He is a retired stuntman and actor, best known for being one of the co-founders of the pioneering Black Stuntmen’s Association in Hollywood.
Prior to his work in the film industry he attended the Florida Agriculture & Mechanical University in Tallahassee, where he was also part of their marching band. After completing his education he decided to move to Los Angeles, initially finding work as a messenger runner for the Los Angeles Wave Newspaper. He was eventually promoted to layout manager at a time where much of the industry was still using the printing press. While living in California, Alex became friends with Eddie Smith, who’s primary work was assisting African-Americans getting cast in action roles in film and television productions. Eventually Brown decided to try his luck in the industry, after being given the security by his newspaper boss that his job would be waiting for him if the venture didn’t succeed. He immediately joined the Buffalo Soldiers, who were an all-black horse riding club led by Woody Strode, and who reenacted Civil War scenarios at parades and events across the city. This group laid the foundations for the Black Stuntmen’s Association (BSA), which was later founded in 1967 by Alex Brown, Eddie Smith and several other notable African-American performers.
In similar fashion to his BSA co-workers, much of his early work in the industry remains undocumented. This was due to the fact that almost all black stunt performers were treated as ‘extras’ and not given the deserved recognition, until well into the following decade. One of his first major breakthroughs came in the fall of 1972, when Eon Productions hired Eddie Smith as one of the stunt coordinators for the latest James Bond blockbuster “Live & Let Die”, starring a host of African-American talent including Yaphet Kotto, Gloria Hendry, Julius W. Harris, Tommy Lane and the BSA. Alex was heavily involved in the production units for New Orleans, Jamaica and New York, appearing in several key sequences in different supporting roles.
Previous to his roles in 007, Alex worked alongside Eddie Smith in several major productions including Clint Eastwood’s “Dirty Harry” in 1971. He also performed a number of stunt sequences in several popular blaxploitation films such as “Across 110th Street” (1972), “Cleopatra Jones” (1973), “Black Belt Jones” (1974) and “Emma Mae” (1976). During the 1980’s and 1990’s, his career continued to progress, working alongside Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman and Yaphet Kotto in “Brubaker” (1980) and with Sylvester Stallone in “Rocky III” (1982). He also achieved supporting roles in the television shows “The White Shadow” (1981), “Falcon Crest” (1983) and “In Living Color” (1991), as well as performing further stunts in the remake of “Halloween” in 2007 and in it’s sequel “Halloween II” in 2009.
Throughout his exceptional career, Alex Brown has fought hard to uphold the legacy and status of African-American stuntmen in the industry ever since the inception of the BSA in 1967. Despite retiring over a decade ago, he is still very active in the media and is currently assisting to recognise the BSA in Hollywood by having their own star on the Walk of Fame.
In "Live & Let Die", stunt performer Alex Brown appears in several sequences in the film.
Firstly he appears during the bus chase sequence as one of the San Monique Police officers sat on a motorbike. He can be seen on the left side when all three officers are parked in the village, observing James Bond and Solitaire boarding the bus.
Secondly, he also appears in the chase around Lakefront Airport, specifically after Mrs. Bell's aircraft wings have been cut off and the plane is driven down the alleyway. Alex is wearing dark green overalls and is the first henchman trying to shoot at Bond. He is chased down the entire length of the alley.
Finally, he appears in the wedding sequence during the boat chase, as the waiter who runs out of the way as Eddie Smith comes crashing onto the lawn.
The autographs displayed below were all signed by Alex Brown for The Bond Archives on the 25th of March, 2024.
The photos highlight all of Alex's main appearances in the film and these are the first James Bond related photos he has ever signed.
Autographs of Alex Brown are considered extremely rare on any material.
The Bond Archives is the first source to publish Alex's exact work in "Live & Let Die", following our interview with him in February of 2024.
Despite assisting on the sequences in New York, he did not appear in front of the camera.
Alex Brown is officially listed on official call sheets during the bus chase sequence in the first week of December, 1972, in Jamaica.
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