Ben Chapman (actor)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2017) |
Ben Chapman | |
---|---|
Honolulu, Hawaii , U.S. | |
Years active | 1949–2006 |
Spouse |
Merrilee Kazarian
(m. 1982) |
Children | 2 |
Website | http://www.the-reelgillman.com |
Benjamin F. Chapman Jr. (October 29, 1928 – February 21, 2008) was an American actor best known as playing the Gill-man on land in the 1954 horror film Creature from the Black Lagoon.
Early life
Born in Oakland, California, he spent much of his childhood in Tahiti and moved to San Francisco at age 12 or 13.[1]
A
Before he played the Creature, he worked as a real estate executive.[1]
Gill Man
Chapman was selected as the Gill Man due to his large size at 6'5".
In a 1993 interview, Chapman explained that there were really two actors who played the Gill Man.[1] He was the creature on land; Ricou Browning was the actor in water sequences.[1] However, Chapman was the one who participated in Creature related events.[1] Chapman further relayed that the studio did not want the public to know that the Gill Man was a man in a suit [6] The suit, made of latex rubber, made it impossible for Chapman to sit down so during breaks from filming he would rest in a studio back lot lake to keep from overheating.[7]
Death
Ben Chapman died shortly after midnight on February 21, 2008, at the
Ilene Wong, co-producer along with Wayne Maeda of the Hawai'i All-Collectors Show which Chapman attended from 1999 to 2007, said that he was
...always very happy and so giving. People would ask him about the movie, or Hollywood, and he would always provide the answers, help out. Ben would bring his briefcase and inside he had his memorabilia – posters, 8-by-10 glossies – and a good pen for autographs. He was just wonderful. In fact, we expected him this year. I think we will make a shrine for him.[1]
See also
References
- ^ Honolulu Advertiser. 2008-02-22. Archived from the originalon 2013-01-26. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
- ^ "KAOS2000 Magazine interview with Ben Chapman: The original Creature From The Black Lagoon". 2018-01-20. Archived from the original on 2018-01-20. Retrieved 2019-02-09.
- ^ "Horror movie legend, a former Marine, dies". Marine Corps Times. March 1, 2008. Archived from the original (online version) on February 13, 2012. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
- ^ Lamothe, Dan (March 10, 2008). "Creature from the Chosin Reservoir: Gill Man star dies at age 79". Marine Corps Times. p. 4 (print edition).
- ^ Lamothe, Dan (March 17, 2008). "Records do not support award claims by actor". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on 23 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
- ^ "An aerobic, sashaying Gill Man".
- ^ "Split Screen: The men behind the masks". Yahoo! Movies. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.