Ben Chapman slips off the mortal coil at 79

The name may not mean a whole lot by itself, but when paired with his on-screen silver age alter ego, it takes a new meaning.

Ben Chapman was one-half of the acting team that ushered in the role of the creature from the Black Lagoon, a/k/a "Gillman." Chapman handled the on-land scenes, while Ricou Browning handled the underwater work of the creature.

Here's more news about his life & passing.

I'm not usually one for eulogizing celebrities, and I definitely don't assign words like "tragic" to the death of the elderly. But I enjoyed this film a lot when I was younger, and I enjoy it a great deal now, so his passing bears some reason to mention.