Ben Chapman (actor)

Infobox actor
name = Ben Chapman


caption = Ben Chapman as the Gill-man
birthname = Benjamin F. Chapman, Jr.
birthdate = birth date|1928|10|29|mf=y
birthplace = Oakland, California
deathdate = death date and age|2008|2|21|1928|10|29|mf=n
deathplace = Honolulu, Hawaii
restingplace =
restingplacecoordinates =
othername =
occupation =
yearsactive = 1949–2006
spouse = Merrilee Kazarian
domesticpartner =
children = Ben Chapman III, Grant Chapman
parents =
influences =
influenced =
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 in the 1954 horror film "Creature from the Black Lagoon". A distant relative of fellow actor Branscombe Richmond, he also appeared in "Wake of the Red Witch" in 1949. cite news |first=|last=|title='Black Lagoon' star Ben Chapman, 79
url=http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080222/OBITS01/802220360/1187/OBITS01|work= Honolulu Advertiser |publisher=|date=2008-02-22 |accessdate=2008-02-23]

Early life

Born in Oakland, California, he spent much of his childhood in Tahiti and moved to San Francisco at age 12 or 13. A Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War, he was believed to have earned a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts for battle injuries in his legs.cite news|accessdate=2008-03-17
url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/02/marine_chapman_022708/
title=Horror movie legend, a former Marine, dies
work=Marine Corps Times
date=March 1, 2008
format=online version] cite news
accessdate=2008-03-17
title=Creature from the Chosin Reservoir: Gill Man star dies at age 79
author=Lamothe, Dan
work=Marine Corps Times
date=March 10, 2008
page=p.4 (print edition)] However, after his death, the "Marine Corps Times" began an investigation of these claims based on the improbability of the claim of receiving two Purple Hearts for the same campaign. Information from Marine Corps records, which were received a month after obituaries with the claims awards of valor and of serving at the Chosin Reservoir, reveal that Chapman did serve in Korea. The "Marine Corps Times" reports that, "according to Marine Corps officials and a copy of Chapman’s military Report of Separation", Chapman did received the Silver Star, Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.cite web|accessdate=2008-03-17
url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/03/marine_chapman_031708/
title=Records do not support award claims by actor
author=Lamothe, Dan
work=Marine Corps Times
date=March 17, 2008]

Before he became the Creature he worked as a real estate executive.

Gill Man

Chapman was selected as the Gill Man due to his large size at 6'5". His famous suit was made out of a foam-rubber body suit and a large-lipped headpiece. He cited horror film predecessors Lon Chaney Sr. in "Phantom of the Opera" and "Hunchback of Notre Dame" in the 1920s, Bela Lugosi in "Dracula" and Boris Karloff in "Frankenstein" in the 1930s, and Lon Chaney Jr. in "The Wolf Man" and "The Mummy" in the 1940s as inspirations to his character.

In a 1993 interview, Chapman explained that there were really two actors who played the Gill Man. He was the creature on land; Ricou Browning was the actor in water sequences. However, Chapman was the one who participated in "Creature" related events.

Death

Ben Chapman died shortly after midnight on February 21, 2008 at the Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. His son Ben Chapman III stated that he had "... heart problems [and] breathing problems." Other survivors include his wife of 25 years, self proclaimed "Mrs Creature" Merrilee Kazarian; another son, Grant Chapman; stepdaughter Elyse Maree Raljevich; sister Moea (Harry) Baty; and "several" nieces and nephews. Chapman's ashes are to be scattered off Waikiki.

Ilene Wong, co-producer along with Wayne Maeda of the Hawai'i All-Collectors Show which Chapman attended from 1999–2007, said that he was

ee also

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0152304|name=Ben Chapman
*amg name|2:12351|Ben Chapman
* [http://www.the-reelgillman.com The Real Gillman]
* [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117981430.html?categoryId=25&cs=1 Variety Magazine: Actor Ben Chapman dies at 79]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/01/movies/01chapman.html?ex=1362200400&en=58f13ebc1d077df1&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss New York Times: Ben Chapman, ‘Black Lagoon’ Creature, Dies at 79]