Darlene Ava Williams

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, 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. She then came off the road to pursue a college degree and later moved on to work as a stunt-woman in television, feature films, and commercials. Besides her circus and aerial skills, she has worked with some of Hollywood's finest stunt-men and dir