Dan Gross: Philly stuntwoman doubles Beyonce, Rihanna, writes book

MANY WOMEN would love to be mistaken for Beyoncé, Rihanna or Vivica A. Fox.

For Angela Meryl, it's her job.

The Germantown native stuntwoman doubled for Beyoncé in "Obsessed," for Rihanna in "Battleship," and Fox in "Kill Bill" and also spent five weeks in Istanbul working on "Skyfall," the new James Bond film in theaters now.

Meryl, a Willingboro High graduate, who splits her time between Philadelphia and Los Angeles, is just out with Stunts: The How-To Handbook, which is available now on her website angelameryl.net and Amazon.com.

Growing up a gymnast and athlete helped inspire her to get into stunts, which she kicked off in the 1996 film "First Kid." Despite performing all kinds of daredevil activities on nearly 100 films and television shows, Meryl says she's never broken any bones and only had three stitches in her career, which ended up on her finger after being slammed through a table in "Kill Bill," in which she performed stunts for Fox in her fight scene with Uma Thurman and Thurman's double.

"Thank God, I have been really blessed. There have been times where I could have really died," Meryl said.

She was excited to crash an ambulance in "Grey's Anatomy," and to be slammed through a glass door by LL Cool J's stunt double in "NCIS: Los Angeles." "I had always wanted to go through a glass door. It's exhilarating," she said.

Any stunts she has yet to try that she hopes to book?

"I'd like to do something with fire. Maybe not a full body burn, maybe bottom half so you can still see me," Meryl said. "I want to do a car chase in Philly or New York," said Meryl, who did some slower driving work on "Paranoia," which shot in town last summer with Harrison Ford, Liam Hemsworth and Gary Oldman.

So, is there anything she is afraid of? "I passed on a bungee jumping job with only an ankle harness," Meryl says.

Her book is as much advice for aspiring stunt actors as it is stories about her career.

"You've got to persevere and get in people's faces," she explains. It's also good to have a mentor. Meryl cites Debbie Evans, "THE female driver in the business," who did a famous motorcycle chase scene in "The Matrix," with inspiring her throughout her career.

For more info, visit AngelaMeryl.net.

Chad Schultz, whose screenplay "Broad Street Bully" about his father, Flyers legend Dave "The Hammer" Schultz, is in development with comic actor Will Arnett ("Up All Night," "Arrested Development") and "The Office" producer Ben Silverman, has just completed a short film called "Slashed," based on the recent Mayfair tire slashings. It was shot near Mayfair.

You can see a trailer at slashedfilm.com. Chad studied screenwriting at University of the Arts, Upright Citizens Brigade and P. I. T theaters in New York and also works for Hammonton, N.J., digital ad agency One Trick Pony. He's hoping to enter "Slashed" in festivals and is seeking a director for "Broad Street Bully," which is not related to "Broad Street Bullies," the Flyers project that horror maven Rob Zombie has in the works.

Sixers legend Julius Erving partied late Friday night at Zee Bar (100 Spring Garden).

Long Island medium Theresa Caputo visited Aerosmith backstage before the group rocked Revel in Atlantic City on Friday night. Caputo watched the show from the side of the stage where Steven Tyler walked over and hugged her during one song. Before the concert, Tyler, Joe Perry and the rest of the group met with 25 first responders from the Atlantic City and Brigantine areas and thanked them for their work during the Hurricane Sandy rescue and recovery efforts.

Lafayette Hill native filmmaker Brad Furman and Olney-raised former NBA player Cuttino Mobley chatted the night before Thanksgiving at Take Me Home Tonight, the big bash Last Call Promotions and Perl Media put on at the Crystal Tea Room. Furman, who directed "The Lincoln Lawyer," recently wrapped "Runner, Runner" starring Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake. DJ Serge Devant kept the crowd dancing all night.

" @PhillyGossip

: dangrossphillygossip

Blog: PhillyGossip.com

philly.com/dangross.

Call 215-854-5963.