The apple of the Gill - Man's eye was also beloved by legions of fans through the decades.

It's possible that my generation - I was born in 1976 - is the last to really grow up with an exposure to the classic movies featuring the Universal Monsters. Despite advances in technology and special effects in the late 70s and 80s, the Universal Monsters remained a staple of late - night television and movie marathons. Their ghastly likenesses were also everywhere in the 80s: action figures, model kits, Halloween costumes, VHS covers and posters, and more. I remember loving my Remco Universal Monsters figures, including a carrying case that doubled as Dracula's castle!

The Creature From The Black Lagoon is widely considered one of the best films in the franchise by fans. One of the biggest reason the film is so frightening and unforgettable is because of Millicent Patrick's brilliant 'Gill - Man' design and the performances of Ricou Browning and Ben Chapman as the creature.

No horror movie can succeed without an empathetic star, someone we come to worry about and root for. Julie Adams is that star, an intelligent, resourceful, and brave scientist who is not so much a damsel in distress as a woman whose curiosity gets the better of her. Adams gained legions of adoring fans through the decades since her appearance in 'Creature,' fans who mourn her loss today. Other career highlights include appearing alongside John Wayne, Elvis Presley, and Nurse Mary Simpson on 'The Andy Griffith Show.'

Julie Adams died on Sunday at the age of 92. She looks back on her experiences filming 'Creature From The Black Lagoon' in the video below.

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