Ricou Browning

Ricou Browning (born February 16, 1930) is an American film director, actor, producer, screenwriter, underwater cinematographer and stuntman. He is best known for his underwater stunt work, especially in the 1954 film ''Creature from the Black Lagoon'', in which he portrayed the titular Gill-man during the film's underwater scenes (actor Ben Chapman played the Creature on land). Browning reprised the role for the underwater scenes in the film's sequels ''Revenge of the Creature'' and ''The Creature Walks Among Us''. He is the last surviving original actor to portray any of the Universal Classic Monsters. Browning also co-created '' Flipper'' with Jack Cowden, and directed a number of episodes of the 1960s television series.

Browning made his feature film directorial debut with '' Salty'' (1973), which he also co-wrote with Cowden, and went on to direct ''Mr. No Legs'' (1978). Browning directed the underwater sequences in 1965's '' Thunderball'', the fourth James Bond film by Eon Productions, as well as the Bond film '' Never Say Never Again'' (1983). He also directed the underwater scenes in the comedy films '' Hello Down There'' (1969) and ''Caddyshack'' (1980). A Florida native, Browning was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2019, he was inducted into the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards' Monster Kid Hall of Fame.

Early life

Browning was born in Fort Pierce, Florida. He was a major in physical education at Florida State University.

Career

Browning started a career in water shows, moving on to produce shows. Browning worked at Wakulla Springs in the 1940s and learned to perform in underwater newsreels conceived by Newt Perry, who later took Browning along when he opened Weeki Wachee Springs.

While working at Wakulla Springs in 1953, Browning was asked to show around a film crew scouting for shooting locations. According to Browning, "Their cameraman asked if I could swim in front of the cameras so they could get the perspective of the size of a human being against the fish and the grass. So I did." Days later, the crew offered Browning the role of the titular Gill-man in the film ''Creature from the Black Lagoon'' (1954). Browning accepted, and played the Gill-man in the film's underwater scenes, while actor Ben Chapman played the monster on land. During filming, Browning reportedly held his breath underwater for up to four minutes at a time. Browning reprised his role as the underwater Gill-man in two sequels, ''Revenge of the Creature'' (1955) and ''The Creature Walks Among Us'' (1956).

He continued in movie production and joined Ivan Tors' studios in Florida, where he co-wrote and co-produced the 1963 film '' Flipper'' (about an intelligent bottlenose dolphin); Browning also directed the second unit underwater scenes for the film. Browning continued writing for the subsequent '' Flipper'' television series that debuted in 1964. He directed the underwater sequences in '' Hello Down There'' (1969), and directed the family film '' Salty'' (1973) and the cult film ''Mr. No Legs'' (1978). He also worked as second unit director, stunt coordinator and underwater sequence director on a number of features, including '' Thunderball'' (1965), '' Around the World Under the Sea'' (1966), ''Island of the Lost'' (1967), ''Caddyshack'' (1980), and '' Never Say Never Again'' (1983).

Personal life

He has a son, Ricou Browning, Jr., who is also a marine coordinator, actor, and stuntman.

Selected filmography

Film

As actor/stuntman

As director/writer/stunt coordinator

Television

As actor/stuntman

As director

Notes

References

Bibliography

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External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Browning, Ricou
1930 births
Living people
People from Fort Pierce, Florida
American male film actors
American cinematographers
American male screenwriters
American stunt performers
American underwater divers
Florida State University alumni
Film directors from Florida
American male television actors
Screenwriters from Florida
Film producers from Florida
Male actors from Florida