Biography

Born in Fort Pierce, Florida, Ricou Browning grew up in nearby Jensen Beach and went on to study physical education at Florida State university. He got a career start diving and springboard diving in local water shows. By the time he was in his early 20s, he was producing underwater shows at Weeki Wachee Springs and topside water shows at Rainbow Springs and other locations. After playing the Gill Men in the underwater scenes of Universal's Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) and its sequels (Revenge of the Creature (1955) and The Creature Walks Among Us (1956)), he got into the swim of film and TV production as a result of an encounter with producer Ivan Tors; Browning ended up president of Tors' Florida studios (he was involved on Tors' Sea Hunt (1958), The Aquanauts (1960) and Flipper (1963) movies and TV series, etc.) He has also worked as a second unit director (above and below water), producer, writer, stunt man and stunt coordinator.
- IMDb mini biography by: Tom Weaver <TomWeavr@aol.com>

In March of 2017, Ricou Browning collaborated directly with Pat Regan of Hawaii to create a biography page for Ricou on the Vulcania Submarine Website. This biography photo-documents Ricou's lifetime achievements in the TV and Motion Picture industries, focusing on his three appearances as the Creature from the Black Lagoon; but also pays special attention to his roll as an uncredited Stunt Diver in Walt Disney's 1954 movie version of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: a part of Ricou's career that was heretofore seldom publicized. This authorized biography was published with Mr. Browning's full support and permission, for the enjoyment of his fans the World over.
- IMDb mini biography by: Pat Regan

As far as I see it Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) was just another movie and it was just another job. I've done many things since then that I am much more proud of. But I've gotten more reaction out of the Creature thing than anything else. Well, I guess that's life!

[in 1994] I get fan mail almost every day, and lots of calls from people who say, "We're having a party. Could you bring your rubber suit over and jump in the pool and scare everybody?."

On the costume: It's like when you play football and you put on all the gear - the shoes and the pads and the helmet. At first, it's bulky and cumbersome. But then, when you go in the game and you start to play, you don't even know you have it on. Swimming in the suit was like that. Once you get into it, you forget about the suit.