Ricou Browning, best known for playing the Gill Man in the 1954 monster movie "Creature from the Black Lagoon," has died. His family told news outlets Browning died Feb. 27 at his home in Southwest Ranches, Florida. He was 93.
Browning collaborated on the 1963 original movie "Flipper," which later became a popular TV series. He told the Ocala Star Banner newspaper in 2013 that he came up with the story idea after a trip to South America to capture fresh-water dolphins in the Amazon river. He said he could hold his breath for minutes underwater, helping him play Gill Man in the swimming scenes. Other actors played the creature on land.
Ricou Browning, a skilled swimmer best known for his underwater role as the Gill Man in the quintessential 3D black-and-white 1950s monster movie "Creature from the Black Lagoon," has died, his family told various media outlets. He was 93.
Browning died Feb. 27 at his home in Southwest Ranches, Florida.
In addition to acting roles, Browning also collaborated as a writer on the 1963 movie "Flipper," and the popular TV series of the same name that followed.
He told the Ocala Star Banner newspaper in 2013 that he came up with the idea after a trip to South America to capture fresh-water dolphins in the Amazon.
I knew Harry Essex pretty well, the screenwriter of The Creature From the Black Lagoon. He had numerous screen writing credits. He was one of the best spontaneous story tellers I ever ran in to in Hollywood. Harry could create an interesting story on the spot, brief beginning, middle, and end. I was always amazed at his talent.
As an aside, I read years ago that the life sized "Creature" stood just outside the receiving entrance to the Navy's BUD/S SEAL training facility in Coronado, Calif. There was a sign by the "Creature" that read, "So you want to be a Frogman, Huh?"
I got a laugh from that.
FWIW.
L.W.
"Always go straight forward, and if you meet the devil, cut him in two and go between the pieces." (William Sturgis, clipper ship captain, 1830s.)
God bless Texas----------------------- Old 300 I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull Its not how you pick the booger.. but where you put it !! Roger V Hunter
He mentioned last week or the week before. Right after Browning died.
And again tonight
Founder Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
![[Linked Image from npr.brightspotcdn.com]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7e132d5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3386x2540+0+0/resize/1760x1320!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fimg%2F2023%2F03%2F06%2Fap23064798205002-490cbae6497189d6c9b47100aba5f84782bfed98.jpg)
