'Creature' star Chapman dies at 79

HONOLULU, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Ben Chapman, the actor who played the title character in "Creature from the Black Lagoon," has died of congestive heart failure in Hawaii at the age of 79.

The Los Angeles Times said Sunday while Chapman did not utter a single world in the popular 1954 cult film, his role as the scaly monster earned him a spot in Hollywood history.

Beyond his role in "Creature," Chapman never quite made it as an actor in Hollywood, nabbing smaller roles in such movies as "Ma and Pa Kettle in Waikiki."

In a 2003 interview, Chapman even downplayed his involvement in the signature horror film, saying his size rather than his acting skills earned him the part.

"They were looking for an imposing creature, and at 6-feet-5, I filled the bill," said Chapman, who died last Thursday in Honolulu.

The Times said Chapman is survived by his longtime companion, Merrilee Kazarian, three children and a sister.