Ricou browning biography

American stuntman and filmmaker (1930–2023)

Ricou Ren Browning (February 16, 1930 – February 27, 2023) was an American stunt performer, filmmaker and actor.

A skilled swimmer, he was known for his innovative underwater stunt work, notably in the 1954 film Creature from the Black Lagoon, in which he portrayed the titular Gill-man during the film's underwater scenes, and in the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball, for which he was the underwater sequences director.

He was also the co-creator of the Flipper media franchise.

Early life

Ricou Ren Browning was born in Fort Pierce, Florida, on February 16, 1930.^[1][3] He majored in physical education at Florida State University.^[4]

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