Ricou Browning tribute episode

In this special episode, we present Ricou Browning: a
Celebration of Life, recorded and streamed live on March 4,
2023 as part of the WE ARE THE MONSTERS series: moderated by Ian
Bates of @Universalstudiosmonsters. Guest hosts include Jim Towns
of the Borgo Pass, as well as Austin T. Hill of
@Universalmonstersuniverse.

Ricou Browning was born in 1930. While working as an underwater
actor and marine entertainer in 1953, he was hired to escort the
makers of the upcoming Creature from the Black Lagoon to a
possible filming location in Wakulla Springs, Florida. After
witnessing his impressive abilities as a swimmer and cave diver,
the 23-year old was hired to portray the Gill-Man in underwater
photography for all three films of the Creature trilogy: Creature
from the Black Lagoon, Revenge of the Creature, and The Creature
Walks Among us. For these roles, the actor would sometimes stay
submerged for hours at a time, breathing through an air hose
between takes.

Browning parlayed this chance opportunity into a lifelong career
that saw him become an underwater stunt coordinator, director and
writer. His credits included the James Bond film Thunderball,
Hello Down There, Caddyshack and more. He was also the co-creator
and underwater director for the beloved television series
"Flipper".

Uncredited in his role as the Creature, Browning would eventually
become a beloved figure in the horror community, and his physical
portrayal of the character became a touchstone for any underwater
creature performer--most notably influencing Doug Jones'
amphibian man in Guillermo Del Toro's The Shape of Water.

At the time of his death on February 27, 2023 at age 93, Ricou
Browning was the last living actor to have portrayed a Classic
Universal Monster.