Aaron Brink

American mixed martial artist (1974–2023)

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Aaron Franklin Brink (November 12, 1974 – May 26, 2023), also known by his stage name Dick Delaware, was an American professional mixed martial artist and pornographic film actor who competed in the Light Heavyweight division. He competed for King of the Cage, RINGS, UFC and World Extreme Cagefighting. Out of 57 career bouts, only one went to decision.

Brink has appeared in episodes of Intervention and Divorce Court and portrayed Electro in Spider-Man XXX: A Porn Parody (2011).

He was the father of Anderson Lee Aldrich, who was convicted of perpetrating the Club Q shooting in November 2022.

Early life

Aaron Brink was born on November 12, 1974, in Newport Beach, California. Raised by his blue-collar father in Huntington Beach, he developed passions for wrestling and surfing. Brink attended Huntington High before being expelled for fighting. From 1989 to 1992, he was in and out of juvenile detention centers on eight occasions.

Brink was arrested and sentenced to serve time for smuggling marijuana from Mexico into the United States. While at the Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island, Brink spent his days training to fight on a heavy bag. He was released at age 24.

Career

After being released from prison, Brink connected with an old friend who encouraged him to enter mixed martial arts. He made his debut at the West Coast NHB Championships in December 1998, winning three fights via knockout. By 2003, he had fought 24 times, compiling a record of 15–8 (1). He competed for the Gladiator Challenge promotion, where he was Interim Heavyweight Champion and the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

Brink entered the adult film industry under the name "Dick Delaware" after being encouraged by a producer at a party. He shot his first scene in 2002.

Brink's adult film career was first revealed after he appeared in an episode of the television series Intervention discussing his addiction to methamphetamine. Brink later returned to the adult industry.

Personal life and death

Brink married Laura Voepel, the daughter of California politician Randy Voepel, in 1999, and divorced her in 2001. Brink struggled with a long-term addiction to methamphetamine.

Brink is the father of Anderson Lee Aldrich, who was convicted of committing the Club Q shooting on November 19–20, 2022 and sentenced to life in prison. Brink stated that he "praised [Aldrich] for violent behavior really early", teaching him his belief that it worked and produced immediate results. Aldrich sought to dissociate from his father after moving to Colorado, changing his name to "protect [him]self" from Brink.

In an interview after the shooting, Brink stated that he was a "conservative Republican" and a Mormon, and that when he learned the shooting was at an LGBTQ bar, he was initially horrified by the possibility that Aldrich might be gay, then relieved to discover that was not the case. The reporter later mentioned that his reaction was not included in the original report, but when Brink learned about the victims, he profusely apologized to the community.

On May 21, 2016, Brink and another man were arrested in Rocklin, California, for attempted burglary and possession of a firearm. Brink was also charged for violation of parole and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Brink died on May 26, 2023 of pancreatic cancer. He was 48.