Ricou Browning

Ricou Browning is an American film director, actor, producer, writer, underwater cinematographer and action specialist. He was born February 16, 1930 in Fort Pierce, Florida and grew up in nearby Jansen Beach. His entertainment career began as a diver and springboard diver in local water shows. In his early 20s, he produced underwater shows at Weeki Wachee Springs and topside water shows at Rainbow Springs and other area locations. Browning played the Gill Man in the underwater scenes of Universal's 1954 monster classic Creature from the Black Lagoon and its sequels Revenge of the Creature and The Creature Walks Among Us. Browning entered film and TV production after meeting producer Ivan Tors. He eventually became president of Tors' Florida studios. Browning participated on Tors' Sea Hunt, The Aquanauts, and Flipper, (1964-1967), as well as other Tors' productions. On the Flipper TV series he served as co-creator (with Jack Cowden), director, writer, and actor. He directed Hello Down There (1969) and Salty (1973). He also worked as second unit director, stunt coordinator and underwater sequence director on a number of features, including Island of the Lost (1967), Caddyshack (1980), Thunderball (1965) and Never Say Never Again (1983). He is the father of "Ricou Browning, Jr."