Editing Ricou Browning (section)

==Career==
[[File:Ricou Browning, March 2019.jpg|thumb|right|Browning in March 2019]]
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 [[newsreel]]s conceived by [[Newt Perry]], who later took Browning along when he opened [[Weeki Wachee Springs]].<ref name="FL Artists Hall of Fame" />

While working at Wakulla Springs in 1953, Browning was asked to show around a film crew scouting for shooting locations.<ref name="Dunne 2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/ctnow/arts-theater/hc-ct-horrorfest-danbury-0825-20160825-story.html|title=Creature From Black Lagoon Resurfacing For CT HorrorFest|last=Dunne|first=Susan|date=August 23, 2016|website=[[Hartford Courant]]|access-date=September 23, 2021}}</ref> 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."<ref name="Dunne 2016" /> Days later, the crew offered Browning the role of the titular [[Gill-man]] in the film ''[[Creature from the Black Lagoon]]'' (1954).<ref name="Dunne 2016" /> Browning accepted, and played the Gill-man in the film's underwater scenes, while actor [[Ben Chapman (actor)|Ben Chapman]] played the monster on land.<ref name="Kinnard 1988">{{cite book|last=Kinnard|first=Roy|date=1988|title=Beasts and Behemoths|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WAXUkw5Ro5IC&pg=PA68|publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]]|pages=68–69|isbn=978-0810820623}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.tcpalm.com/yournews/martin-county/martin-countys-ricou-browning-played-the-creature-from-the-black-lagoon-ep-382918693-343376342.html|title=Martin County's Ricou Browning played the 'Creature from the Black Lagoon'|last1=Luckhardt|first1=Alice L.|last2=Luckhardt|first2=Greg E.|date=March 15, 2012|website=[[Treasure Coast Newspapers|TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers]]|access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref> During filming, Browning reportedly held his breath underwater for up to four minutes at a time.<ref name="Rizzo 2013" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fangoria.com/original/the-immortal-creature-ricou-browning/|title=The Immortal Creature: Ricou Browning|last=McBrayer|first=Mary Kay|date=November 19, 2021|website=[[Fangoria]]|access-date=April 7, 2022}}</ref> Browning reprised his role as the underwater Gill-man in two sequels, ''[[Revenge of the Creature]]'' (1955) and ''[[The Creature Walks Among Us]]'' (1956).

Browning continued in movie production and joined [[Ivan Tors]]' studios in Florida, where he co-wrote and co-produced the 1963 film ''[[Flipper (1963 film)|Flipper]]'' (about an intelligent [[bottlenose dolphin]]) together with Jack Cowden; Browning also directed the [[second unit]] underwater scenes for the film.<ref name="O'Barry & Coulbourn 2000">{{cite book|last1=O'Barry|first1=Richard|author-link1=Richard O'Barry|last2=Coulbourn|first2=Keith|date=2000|title=Behind the Dolphin Smile: A True Story That Will Touch the Hearts of Animal Lovers Everywhere|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gco944svzwwC&pg=PA124|publisher=[[St. Martin's Griffin]]|page=124|isbn=978-1580631013}}</ref> Browning continued writing and directing for the subsequent ''[[Flipper (1964 TV series)|Flipper]]'' television series that debuted in 1964.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Paietta|first1=Ann C.|last2=Kauppila|first2=Jean L.|date=1994|title=Animals on Screen and Radio|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rpTeSKkdTE4C&pg=PA301|publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]]|page=301|isbn=978-0810829398}}</ref>

He made his feature film [[directorial debut]] with ''[[Salty (film)|Salty]]'' (1973), which he also co-wrote with Cowden,<ref name="Dunne 2016" /> and directed the  cult film ''[[Mr. No Legs]]'' (1978).

He worked as second unit director, stunt coordinator and underwater sequence director on a number of features, including the [[James Bond]] films ''[[Thunderball (film)|Thunderball]]'' (1965) and ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' (1983), ''[[Around the World Under the Sea]]'' (1966), ''[[Island of the Lost]]'' (1967), ''[[Hello Down There]]'' (1969), and ''[[Caddyshack]]'' (1980).<ref name="FL Artists Hall of Fame" />

A Florida native,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2013/04/creature_from_the_black_lagoon.html|title=Ricou Browning performed swimmingly as movie monster|last=Voger|first=Mark|date=April 26, 2013|website=[[NJ.com]]|access-date=September 23, 2021}}</ref> Browning was inducted into the [[Florida Artists Hall of Fame]] in 2012.<ref name="FL Artists Hall of Fame">{{cite web|url=http://www.florida-arts.org/programs/ahf/displayArtist.cfm?member=51|title=Ricou Browning {{!}} Florida Artists Hall of Fame|website=Florida Department of State|access-date=April 25, 2013|archive-date=July 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729203420/http://www.florida-arts.org/programs/ahf/displayArtist.cfm?member=51|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2019, he was inducted into the [[Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards]]' Monster Kid Hall of Fame.<ref name="17th Annual Rondos">{{cite web|url=https://rondoaward.com/rondoaward.com/blog/?p=741|title=Winners of the (Gasp!) 17th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards|website=RondoAward.com|first=David|last=Colton|date=February 19, 2019}}</ref>

Prior to his death, Browning was considered the last surviving original actor to portray any of the [[Universal Classic Monsters]].<ref name="Squires 2023" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3525170/salem-horror-fest-kicks-off-tomorrow-sure-get-tickets-can/|title=The Salem Horror Fest Kicks Off Tomorrow, So Be Sure to Get Tickets While You Can!|last=Squires|first=John|date=October 3, 2018|website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]|access-date=April 7, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.joblo.com/creature-from-the-black-lagoon-ricou-browning/|title=Creature from the Black Lagoon: Ricou Browning in need of get well cards from fans|last=Hamman|first=Cody|date=September 29, 2021|website=[[JoBlo.com]]|access-date=April 7, 2022}}</ref>