Brick Bronsky
Brick Bronsky | |
---|---|
Birth name | Jeffrey Mark Beltzner |
Born | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.[1] | April 18, 1964
Died | August 23, 2021 Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 57)
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Brick Bronsky Brick Bronski Jeff Beitzner Jeff Bronsky Jeffrey Belzner |
Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2] |
Billed weight | 245 lb (111 kg)[2] |
Billed from | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[2][3][4] |
Trained by | Brad Rheingans[2] Mr. Hito |
Debut | 1985[2][3][4][5] |
Retired | 1998 |
Jeffrey Mark Beltzner (April 18, 1964 – August 23, 2021), known by his ring name Brick Bronsky, was an American actor, film producer, professional wrestler and sports promoter. He gained particular notoriety for starring in a string of films for Troma Studios during the early-1990s, most notably, in Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. (1990), Class of Nuke 'Em High 2: Subhumanoid Meltdown (1991), and Class of Nuke 'Em High 3: The Good, the Bad and the Subhumanoid (1994); he also had a small role in Jean-Claude Van Damme's The Quest (1996).
Beltzner was a
Following the close of Stampede Wrestling, and the subsequent collapse of the NWA territory system, at the end of the decade, Beltzner returned to his home state where he became a mainstay for local independent promotions throughout the 1990s. He often teamed with Doug Flex during his wrestling career and, along with manager G.Q. Bronsky, were collectively known as The Brat Pack; he and Flex later ran the Harrisburg-based International Pro Wrestling together from 1996 until 2004. He and Flex expanded into other areas of sports promotion and, in 1992, they organized the first boxing matches held in the Lehigh Valley region in nearly ten years.
Early life and education
Jeffrey Mark Beltzner was born in
Career
Professional wrestling
At Penn State, he met his future tag team partner
Beltzner too soon returned to the United States and, at age 24, began working for the
In the 1980s,
Partnership with Doug Flex
Beltzner reunited with his college friend Doug Flex, who had made his wrestling debut the previous year, and won a number of tag team titles in the
Both men were also involved in volunteer work with local youths in the Lehighton area during this time and counseled high school students across the United States about the dangers of
In 1996, Beltzner and Doug Flex formed their own promotion, International Pro Wrestling, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It was there that they formed the heel stable "The Brat Pack" with Beltzner's "younger brother" and manager G.Q. Bronsky. The trio eventually made appearances in other promotions throughout the Northeastern United States.[1] Beltzner himself would feud with "Handsome" Frank Stalletto in both IPW and American Commonwealth Wrestling[5] before becoming the promotion's first heavyweight champion on November 30, 1996,[1] in New Britain, Connecticut by defeating Dave Powers in a one-night tournament.[3]
Beltzner was one of the top stars of the promotion during its run and his fans called themselves the "Brick Clique".[4] He remained champion for over a year[1] and defended the title against a number of independent stars including Frank Staletto[18][19] and 911; while champion, he was the first man to draw blood from 911.[20] On December 5, 1997, Beltzner lost the title to King Kong Bundy in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania[21] after G.Q. Bronsky turned on Beltzner[22] by hitting him with a steel chair and causing the breakup of "The Brat Pack".[4]
Sports promotion
Beltzner, Flex and John O'Mara, who was a local standout athlete, began promoting sporting events from their
That summer, he and Flex became involved in a local zoning controversy involving their gym. On August 17, local building inspector Peter Kropf sent a certified letter to Keith Boyer and the four people leasing the building that the building had numerous violations and that Boyers had 45 days to bring it into compliance with state and local codes or face daily fines of up to $1,000. Kropf also claimed that Boyer never secured a necessary permit when he opened a gym in the former silk mill in 1983. The three-story brick building housed a furniture-stripping business as well as the gym. Town officials raised concerns that the building may be unsafe, such as the absence of proper fire exits, to accommodate the hundreds of people that the gym was bringing in on the weekends. Flex was the first to sign and acknowledge the town's letter.[25]
Beltzner also continued acting and returned to star in the third and final film in the Class of Nuke 'Em High series, Class of Nuke 'Em High 3: The Good, the Bad and the Subhumanoid (1994). In his last feature film for Troma Studios, he played both the character of Roger Smith and those of his twin sons, Adlai and Dick Smith.[26] That same year, with fellow professional wrestler Tony Halme, he also had a minor role in Joe Coppoletta's independent action film Death Match (1994), starring Ian Jacklin, Martin Kove and Matthias Hues.[27] Two years later, he appeared in Jean-Claude Van Damme's The Quest (1996), portraying the champion fighter brought to the underground fighting tournament from Russia.
Acting
While recovering from his bicep injury, Beltzner auditioned for Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. (1990) then being shot by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz in New York.[17] His first film role resulted in a standout performance as the thug-for-hire "Jughead".[28] The following year he starred in Class of Nuke 'Em High 2: Subhumanoid Meltdown (1991), alongside co-star Leesa Rowland, as student journalist Roger Smith.[29][30][31] Though the film received mixed reviews, Beltzner's performance gained favorable receptions from critics.[2] Beltzner himself, who performed all his own stunts, credited Troma with making him a better performer when he resumed his pro wrestling career in the mid-1990s.[17]
Suffering back and neck injuries resulting from G.Q. Bronsky's attack, Beltzner moved to California to resume his acting career.[4] In 2000, he reprised his role as "Jughead" from Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. on Troma's Edge TV. He also began producing his own film projects with independent film studio Evolving Pictures Entertainment. As vice president of the studio, he was the executive producer on Love Conquers Paul (2002) and Where's Angelo? (2003), and starred in Spin Cycle.
In January 2012, Beltzner gave an interview for Troma's official website discussing his experiences working with the studio. He also introduced his wife Donna and their four children.[17] Six months later, Troma announced plans for a Return to Nuke 'em High sequel.[32] Fans of the previous movies became very vocally active about Bronsky reprising his role from the sequels.[33]
As of 2017, he has been attached as a co-producer to its latest film Mad Monster Party Re-make. He was also attached to produce Sadako and the Magic of Paper Cranes, written by Malcolm Clarke, and The 'Necroscope' 4-D Motion Picture, for Evolving Pictures Entertainment.
Death
Beltzner went into a coma on August 22, 2021, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The following day, Hannibal TV reported that Beltzner died at the age of 57 from COVID-19 in the morning hours of August 23. His death was also confirmed by fellow Stampede Wrestling alumnus Jonathan Holliday.[34][6]
Filmography
Film | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
1990 | Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. | 'Jughead' | |
1991 | Class of Nuke 'Em High 2: Subhumanoid Meltdown | Roger Smith | |
1994 | Class of Nuke 'Em High 3: The Good, the Bad and the Subhumanoid | Roger Smith / Adlai Smith / Dick Smith | |
1994 | Death Match | Vinnie's Bodyguard | |
1996 | The Quest | Russian Fighter | |
2004 | Spin Cycle | Officer Shasta | |
2013 | Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1 | Dick Smith |
Championships and accomplishments
- Galaxy Wrestling Federation
- International Pro Wrestling
- IPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time, first)[21]
- North American Wrestling Federation
- Other
- Canadian International Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Doug Flex[2]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him # 442 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1998
- PWI ranked him # 354 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1997
- PWI ranked him # 377 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1996
- PWI ranked him # 394 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1992
References
- ^ a b c d e Simpson, Greg. "Mindbender's Wrestling Greats: "B"". Mindbenders Wrestling Greats. Mindbenders.ca. Archived from the original on April 16, 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n McKee, Katherine (November 7, 1991). "Matmen Making Many Muscular Cover Story". The Morning Call. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
- ^ a b c "The PWI 500." Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: London Publishing Company. (Holiday 1997): pg. 51.
- ^ a b c d e "The PWI 500." Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: London Publishing Company. (Holiday 1998): pg. 73.
- ^ a b "The PWI 500." Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: London Publishing Company. (Winter 1996): pg. 53.
- ^ a b "Jeffrey Beltzer (1964-2021) obituary, Legacy.com, August 27, 2021
- ^ ISBN 1-55366-085-4
- )
- )
- )
- ^ "Calgary Stampede Wrestling". CoreysTapes.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ "Calgary Stampede Television Listings". Professional Wrestling Territories (Pre-1990's). PWChronicles.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- Calgary, Alberta: Fouladkar, Assad. Archived from the originalon September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
- ^ Cawthon, Graham. "WWF Wrestling Challenge: 1989". WWE TV Results. Graham Cawthon's TheHistoryofWWE.com. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ "1989". WWF Wrestling Challenge. PWChronicles.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ISBN 0-425-16357-1
- ^ a b c d e Troma Entertainment (January 29, 2012). "An Interview With Brick Bronsky, Star of Class of Nuke'em High Parts 2&3!". Troma.com. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
- ^ "Pro Matmen on Tap at Lehighton Bam Bam Bigelow To Face 911 in Feature Bout on March 22". The Morning Call. March 14, 1996. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Mat Action at Flagstaff Hall * 7:30 pm Start For Ipw Wrestlers, Including East Debut of John Rambo". The Morning Call. June 26, 1997. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
- ^ "911". Wrestler Biographies. TWNPnews.com. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Walker, Timothy A. and Michael J. DiMuzio. "Arena Reports." Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: London Publishing Company. (May 1998): pg. 51.
- ^ Flexer, Robert (February 6, 1992). "Three Twin Mt. Fighters To Make Debuts Sunday". The Morning Call. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
- ^ "Matt Gursky Awarded 1st Bnosky Memorial". The Morning Call. March 12, 1992. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
- ^ Todd, Susan (August 21, 1992). "Lehighton Building Owner Faces Fines". The Morning Call. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
- ISBN 0-313-33116-2
- ISBN 0-933997-35-3
- ISBN 0-8129-3149-1
- ^ Vidcassette Review. "Class of Nuke 'Em High 2: Subhumanoid Meltdown (Horror Spoof – Color)." Variety and Daily Variety TV Reviews, 1991–1992. Apr 2 (1992).
- ISBN 0-89950-927-4
- ISBN 0-345-42099-3
- ^ "Lloyd talks about the new Nuke Em High movie, the future of Toxie 5, Father's Day and more!". News. LloydKaufman.com. June 5, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
- ^ "@lloydkaufman" on Twitter
- ^ "Wrestler turned actor Brick Bronsky dies". Slam Wrestling. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.