Actor Ben Chapman died 21 February 2008 of congestive heart failure. Born 29 October 1928 in Oakland, California, to Tahitian parents, he is best remembered for playing the (uncredited) Creature from the Black Lagoon in the 1954 film of that name. He was in the suit for all of the above the surface scenes; stuntman Ricou Browning handled all the underwater scenes.
Chapman appeared in only a handful of films, and was not asked back for Universal's two sequels, Revenge of the Creature (1955) or The Creature Walks Among Us (1956).
After acting, he became a real estate salesman, but over the last decade, he made frequent appearances at autograph shows and film festivals around the country, where he was known as one of the most fan-friendly of celebrities.
The Los Angeles Times has a full obituary at this link.
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