Meet Author, Actress, Producer & Director Beth Brickell at History Fort Lauderdale’s “Florida Scribes & Stories” at History Fort Lauderdale

History Fort Lauderdale, committed to preserving our collective heritage, promoting historical literacy, and fostering a sense of pride and stewardship for the vibrant tapestry of our region's history, will present a breakfast and book signing with Beth Brickell, former Gentle Ben actress, producer, director, and author of “Willam and Mary Brickell: Founders of Miami and Fort Lauderdale” on Saturday, February 21, from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Brickell will discuss the pivotal role that William and Mary Brickell played in transforming a frontier settlement into a thriving urban center, offering fresh insight into the forces that fueled South Florida’s growth. Her Broward appearance is part of History Fort Lauderdale’s “Florida Scribes & Stories,” a meet the author series that offers literary and history enthusiasts a chance to speak with local authors, purchase their latest releases and have them signed. Tickets are $50 and guests may RSVP to bit.ly/FloridaScribesBrickell2026.

From 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., Brickell will participate in a fireside chat at HistoryMiami (101 West Flagler Street in Miami). More information is available at historymiami.org/event/builders-of-miami-william-and-mary-brickell/.

Beth Brickell is an actor, award-winning producer, and writer with numerous stage and screen credits. She is most widely recognized for her 1967–69 leading role on the CBS TV adventure series Gentle Ben, which filmed in Miami also starring Dennis Weaver, Clint Howard and their family pet, a 650-pound black bear named Ben. She’s also appeared in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Marcus Welby, M.D., Bonanza, Hawaii Five-O, and Fantasy Island. In 1972, she appeared in the feature film The Only Way Home, followed by the 1975 movie The Posse and 1977’s Death Game. She has also engaged in film production and investigative journalism, the latter relating to the 1957 disappearance of Maud Crawford.

Brickell ceased acting in order to become a directing fellow at the American Film Institute Conservatory in Los Angeles, receiving an MFA in 1978. In the 1980s, she taught for three years at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York and Los Angeles, while also directing. She was writer and producer for the award-winning A Rainy Day (1978) which was broadcast on PBS and Summer’s End (1985) on A&E, Nickelodeon, PBS, and Showtime, which won 16 film industry awards. She also wrote, directed, and produced the lauded 2005 holiday movie Mr. Christmas.

Brickell has served as chair of the steering committee of the Director’s Guild of American Women, was an Emmy Awards panelist, and served on the grants committee for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. She is president of the independent company Luminous Films Inc. with several projects in development.

In addition to “William and Mary Brickell: Founders of Miami and Fort Lauderdale” (2011), Brickell authored “The Disappearance of Maud Crawford” (2013), featuring reprints of her investigative series for the Gazette. She subsequently produced three other books relating to her investigation into Crawford’s disappearance.

“William and Mary Brickell: Founders of Miami and Fort Lauderdale” books are $25 each and will be available for purchase separately at each venue or via Amazon.com.

For more information, call (954) 463-4431 or visit historyfortlauderdale.org.