Ricou Browning was an actor, stuntman, screenwriter, and director who played the Gill-man in the classic horror film “Creature from the Black Lagoon.”
- Died: February 27, 2023 (Who else died on February 27?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Southwest Ranches, Florida of natural causes at the age of 93.
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Hollywood career
Browning’s ability to hold his breath for four minutes helped him land iconic roles in underwater stunt work, especially as he wore the Gill-man’s suit in “Creature for the Black Lagoon” and its two sequels. The last surviving of the actors to play Universal monsters, he filmed the creature’s underwater scenes, while another actor wore the suit in scenes on land. Browning also did underwater stunts in TV shows including “Sea Hunt” and “Flipper.” But stunt work was far from his only contribution to “Flipper.” Along with his brother-in-law, Browning conceived the story for the 1963 movie “Flipper,” and he was the movie’s stunt coordinator and associate producer. When “Flipper” was reimagined as a TV series, Browning directed 37 of its episodes, as well as appearing in underwater scenes. Browning also directed movies including “Salty,” which he co-wrote, and “Mr. No Legs.” His second unit directing credits included the James Bond movies “Thunderball” and “Never Say Never Again,” as well as “Caddyshack” and “Police Academy 5.”
Browning on his early work
“Back in those days, there was a company called Grantland Rice, and they used to make short subjects to show in theaters after the movie was shown. I was involved in many of those, like diving from a tower into the water and swimming underwater. We had a bunch of kids in a Model T Ford having an underwater picnic, and all kinds of crazy stuff. It was fun doing it.” —from a 2019 interview for Halloween Daily News
Tributes to Ricou Browning
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
