Paired to Perfection

Ricou Browning, the underwater actor who brought the Gill-Man to life in the original Creature from the Black Lagoon films, passed away on February 27, 2023, at the age of 93. The last surviving performer to portray one of Universal's original classic monsters, Browning spent a lifetime making audiences believe monsters could swim. Born in Fort Pierce, Florida, and read more

raised around the state's crystal-clear springs, Ricou Browning never intended to become a movie monster. After studying physical education at Florida State University, he worked at Wakulla Springs performing underwater demonstrations for tourists, where his ability to hold his breath for four minutes and move effortlessly underwater caught the attention of a Hollywood film crew.

In 1953, Universal Pictures arrived to scout locations for a new monster movie. They needed someone who could wear an unforgiving foam rubber suit underwater, survive long filming days, and somehow make the creature appear graceful. After watching Browning swim, they hired him on the spot.

He became the Gill-Man.

Browning performed all of the underwater scenes for Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Revenge of the Creature, and The Creature Walks Among Us, while another actor handled scenes on land. His fluid, almost balletic movements transformed what could have been a lumbering monster into a strangely elegant and tragic figure. Critics later described his underwater performance as "tortured romantic poetry."

Filming was physically demanding. Browning spent up to nine hours a day submerged in 71-degree water wearing a restrictive suit while outside temperatures hovered around 49 degrees. Despite the challenges, he later remarked, "I forgot I had it on. I became the creature."

When Browning passed away, he was widely recognized as the final surviving actor to portray one of Universal's original Classic Monsters, marking the end of a legendary chapter in horror film history.

His career, however, extended far beyond monsters. Browning co-wrote and co-produced the 1963 film Flipper, inspired by his fascination with dolphins, which later became the beloved television series for which he directed 37 episodes. He also choreographed underwater sequences for the James Bond film Thunderball, served as second-unit director on Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and even directed the unforgettable underwater candy-bar scene in Caddyshack, parodying the opening of Jaws.

Ricou Browning died of natural causes at his home in Southwest Ranches, Florida, on February 27, 2023. He is survived by four children, including his son Ricou Jr., who followed his father into underwater stunt work and marine coordination for film. His wife, Fran, preceded him in death.

Whether beneath the waves as a misunderstood monster or behind the camera creating unforgettable aquatic adventures, Browning forever changed how audiences experienced life beneath the surface.

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Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) DeWitt H. “DH” Ward passed away peacefully on April 29, 2026, at the age of 91. A decorated Green Beret, lifelong soldier, devoted husband, and outdoorsman, DH spent his life serving both his country and the people he loved with quiet strength and unwavering dedication. Born on August 9, 1934, in Midlothian, Texas, DeWitt H. Ward—known read more

simply as "DH" to family and friends, and affectionately as "Darling Husband" by his wife Jane—grew up helping on the family farm and playing football. After graduating high school at just sixteen years old, he attended Texas Tech through the ROTC program while serving in the National Guard.

Upon graduating in 1955, DH accepted a commission into the United States Army, beginning a distinguished military career that would span twenty-five years. His service carried him across the globe, with assignments in Okinawa, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Germany, and two combat tours in Vietnam as both a Green Beret and Special Forces commander.

A qualified paratrooper, DH frequently participated in airborne demonstrations, giving his family opportunities to proudly watch him leap from aircraft in service to his country.

Though military life meant frequent moves and long deployments, DH remained deeply committed to his family. Even while serving in Vietnam, he regularly sent letters, recorded messages, cartoons, and jokes home, ensuring that distance never weakened the bonds he shared with those he loved. Whenever possible, he introduced his family to America's national parks, campgrounds, and scenic landscapes, passing along his lifelong appreciation for the outdoors.

Following his final assignment in Germany, DH retired from the Army in 1977. He and Jane returned to Washington State to operate their 300-acre apple orchard before eventually settling in Bozeman, Montana, in 1990.

Retirement hardly slowed him down. He embraced skiing, hunting, fishing, camping, ranch work, woodworking, and community service. Together, he and Jane volunteered as Big Sky ski hosts for more than twenty years, welcoming visitors from around the world with warmth and hospitality.

Friends knew DH as someone who was always willing to lend a hand, whether repairing equipment in his workshop, maintaining his ranch, or helping neighbors with projects. His life reflected service, resilience, generosity, and an enduring love for family, country, and the outdoors.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Jane; five children; ten grandchildren; and seventeen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his grandsons, L.J. Clayton and Ted Clayton.

A celebration of his life with full military honors was held on June 12, 2026. His legacy of leadership, courage, adventure, and devotion will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him.

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Jim Varney, the actor and comedian who brought Ernest P. Worrell to life and voiced several beloved animated characters—including Cookie in Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire—passed away on February 10, 2000, after battling lung cancer. He was 50 years old, leaving behind generations of fans who still smile when they hear, "KnowwhutImean?"... read more

Born in Lexington, Kentucky, on June 15, 1949, Jim Varney discovered his love for performing at an early age. After years of stage work and television appearances, he created the character that would define much of his career: Ernest P. Worrell.

Ernest first appeared in a series of regional television commercials during the early 1980s. With his denim vest, baseball cap, boundless enthusiasm, and trademark catchphrase, "KnowwhutImean?", Ernest quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The character's popularity soon led to television specials and a successful series of feature films.

Between 1987 and 1990, Varney starred in Disney favorites including Ernest Goes to Camp, Ernest Saves Christmas, and Ernest Goes to Jail, with additional Ernest adventures following throughout the 1990s. Audiences loved Ernest because, despite the chaos he constantly created, his heart was always in the right place.

Varney's talents extended well beyond live-action comedy. He voiced Slinky Dog in both Toy Story and Toy Story 2, introducing himself to an entirely new generation of moviegoers. He also provided the voice of Jebidiah Allardyce "Cookie" Farnsworth, the eccentric dirt-loving demolition expert, in Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire, one of the standout members of Milo Thatch's expedition.

Throughout his career, Varney also appeared in Hey Vern, It's Ernest!, Roseanne, The Simpsons, and numerous television and film projects that showcased his remarkable range as both a comedic performer and voice actor.

Though many people forever associate him with Ernest's goofy grin and endless optimism, Jim Varney was much more than a single character. His warmth, energy, and unmistakable voice made him one of the most recognizable entertainers of his generation.

Jim Varney passed away at his home in White House, Tennessee, on February 10, 2000, following a battle with lung cancer. He was 50 years old. His performances continue to entertain audiences decades later, proving that genuine kindness and laughter never really go out of style.

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Congressman Leo Ryan never believed investigations belonged behind a desk. Whether posing as a substitute teacher, an inmate inside Folsom Prison, or traveling deep into the jungles of Guyana, Ryan believed the only way to uncover the truth was to witness it firsthand—even when doing so ultimately cost him his life... read more

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on May 5, 1925, Leo Joseph Ryan Jr. built a political career that was anything but conventional. After serving as a city councilman, mayor of South San Francisco, state assemblyman, and eventually a U.S. Congressman, Ryan developed a reputation for personally investigating the issues he was tasked with overseeing.

Following the Watts riots in 1965, while many politicians commented from afar, Ryan quietly took a job as a substitute teacher in the neighborhood to better understand the community's struggles. Several years later, while leading a committee investigating California prison reform, he had himself arrested under a false name and spent ten days incarcerated inside Folsom State Prison. There, he lived alongside inmates, even playing chess with pieces fashioned from toilet paper and toothpaste. When he left, the prisoners gave him the handmade chess set, which he kept for the remainder of his life.

Ryan's willingness to immerse himself in difficult situations drew both praise and criticism. Some dismissed his methods as publicity stunts, while Ryan argued that firsthand experience produced better leadership. He also championed government accountability, co-authoring legislation requiring the CIA to report covert operations to Congress despite fierce opposition.

In November 1978, Ryan learned that several of his constituents feared loved ones were being held against their will inside the People's Temple settlement of Jonestown, Guyana. Reports described abuse, forced labor, and members unable to leave. Ryan invited fellow members of Congress to accompany him on a fact-finding mission. None accepted.

Instead, Ryan traveled with a small congressional staff, journalists, and concerned family members to investigate personally. After several Temple members asked to leave with his delegation, Ryan and his party attempted to depart from a nearby airstrip on November 18, 1978. Before their aircraft could take off, gunmen loyal to Jim Jones opened fire.

Leo Ryan was killed in the attack at the age of 53. Within hours, more than 900 members of the People's Temple died in the Jonestown mass murder-suicide, forever cementing the tragedy as one of the darkest chapters in American history.

Ryan remains the only sitting member of the United States Congress ever assassinated while performing official duties. In 1983, he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his courage and public service.

In one final twist of history, Ryan's daughter Shannon Jo later briefly joined another infamous religious movement, the Rajneeshees, before eventually leaving the group.

Leo Ryan spent his life running toward difficult truths while others walked away. He didn't choose easy investigations or comfortable assignments—he chose the places where someone needed to show up, and he did, right up until the very end.

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Tobe Hooper, the filmmaker who gave horror audiences Leatherface and forever changed the genre with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, died on August 26, 2017, at the age of 74. Working with a tiny budget, unknown actors, and the unforgiving Texas heat, Hooper created one of the most influential horror films ever made. read more...

Born in Austin, Texas, in 1943, Tobe Hooper worked as a college professor and documentary filmmaker before turning his attention to feature films. In 1974, he directed, produced, and co-wrote the movie that would define his career and permanently alter the landscape of American horror: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Shot on a small budget in Texas with a cast of relatively unknown actors, the film initially struggled to find a distributor because of its violent content. Once released, however, it became one of the most profitable independent films of the 1970s and developed into a horror classic.

The story followed a group of friends who encounter the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface and his cannibalistic family in rural Texas. Its grimy realism, dark humor, and relentless atmosphere introduced elements that would become staples of the horror genre, including power tools as weapons and the terrifying image of a faceless, masked killer.

Hooper understood that what audiences imagined could be more frightening than anything he could put on screen. Speaking about Leatherface's mask decades later, he explained that hiding the killer's face forced viewers to fill in the blanks themselves, creating something more disturbing than what could actually be shown.

Hooper continued shaping horror throughout his career. In 1979, he directed the television adaptation of Stephen King's Salem's Lot, which became one of the most acclaimed adaptations of King's work. Three years later, he directed Poltergeist, written and produced by Steven Spielberg, which became both a critical and box-office success.

In 1986, Hooper returned to the franchise that made him famous with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. Rather than simply recreating the original, he pushed the sequel further into grotesque comedy, emphasizing the dark humor that had always existed beneath the surface of his work.

His influence extended far beyond his own films. Directors including Ridley Scott, Rob Zombie, and Wes Craven cited The Texas Chain Saw Massacre as an influence on their work, while generations of horror filmmakers borrowed from the visual language and atmosphere Hooper helped establish.

His later career continued across film and television, with his final feature project, Djinn, released in 2013.

Tobe Hooper died in Sherman Oaks, California, on August 26, 2017. He was 74 years old. More than four decades after Leatherface first stepped onto a Texas backroad with a chainsaw in his hands, Hooper's influence remains embedded in the DNA of modern horror.

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Rachel Wentworth Crandell, lovingly known as “Rainforest Rachel,” devoted her life to protecting the world’s tropical rainforests through education, conservation, and faith. Long before environmental advocacy became commonplace, she believed that every person could make a difference — one child, one tree, and one animal at a time. read more...

For nearly 20 years, Rachel worked as a second-grade teacher at Principia School, where her passion for education and the natural world became intertwined. After retiring from teaching in 2001, she dedicated herself full-time to rainforest conservation and environmental education.

Rachel founded the Monteverde Conservation League, U.S., and devoted herself to protecting tropical forests while teaching others why their preservation mattered. She led educational programs and eco-tours, inspiring countless children and adults to see themselves as stewards of the Earth.

Her work extended into storytelling as well. Rachel authored and co-authored several children’s books, including Hands of the Maya and The Forever Forest: Kids Save a Tropical Treasure. Through her writing, she encouraged young readers to appreciate the natural world while developing respect for indigenous cultures and the communities that depend upon these ecosystems.

Rachel approached environmental conservation with optimism rather than despair. Her son Jeremy recalled her philosophy simply: “We can despair, or we can take action.” Guided by her Christian faith, she believed that if something glorified God, then it was always worth doing.

Her dedication earned national recognition, including being named National Firestone Eco-Educator of the Year. But her greatest legacy could be found in the forests she helped protect and the generations of children she inspired.

Among the most enduring symbols of that legacy is the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, preserved through a remarkable international conservation effort and representative of Rachel’s belief that even young people could play a meaningful role in protecting the planet.

Rachel was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Dwight, and her youngest son, Joshua. She is survived by her children Jeremy, Abigail, and Joanna; six grandchildren; her siblings; and the countless people whose lives were enriched by her passion, kindness, and unwavering belief that one person truly can change the world.

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Ed Warren, the world-renowned paranormal researcher, ghosthunter, and demonologist who alongside his wife Lorraine investigated some of America's most infamous alleged hauntings, died on August 23, 2006, at the age of 79. From Amityville to decades spent investigating the supernatural, Warren dedicated his life to things most people would rather never encounter. read more...

Born on September 7, 1926, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Ed Warren became one half of the husband-and-wife paranormal investigation team Ed and Lorraine Warren, known as the Seekers of the Supernatural. Together, the Warrens spent decades investigating reports of hauntings, demonic activity, and other unexplained phenomena.

Before dedicating his life to the paranormal, Warren served in the United States Navy during World War II, seeing service in both the Pacific and European Theatres. Following his military service, he attended art school and became a painter, frequently depicting haunted houses and winter scenes throughout New England.

Ed and Lorraine's fascination with the supernatural eventually became their life's work. The couple investigated countless claims of paranormal activity and were also called upon to assist in police investigations involving alleged satanic ritualistic murders. Their reputation led to appearances at hundreds of colleges and universities, where they lectured about ghosts, hauntings, and the supernatural.

Among their most famous investigations was the Amityville Horror case. The Warrens were among a small group of paranormal investigators invited into the Long Island home following claims of terrifying supernatural activity there, and they later served as consultants on the first Amityville Horror film.

Warren was described as one of only seven religious demonologists in the United States. Together, Ed and Lorraine co-authored ten books on supernatural phenomena. Two of their books were adapted into made-for-television movies, The Demon Murder Case and The Haunted.

Outside the paranormal world, Warren was an avid animal lover and advocate who rescued numerous animals throughout his life.

When once asked whether he feared death, Warren answered simply: "No, I don't fear it, not one iota." He said he believed he would be going to a beautiful place "so spectacular it defies words."

Ed Warren died at his home in Monroe, Connecticut, on August 23, 2006, with Lorraine, his beloved wife of 61 years, by his side. He was 79 years old.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ed's memory were requested for the Animal Center.

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Jeron Criswell King, better known as “The Amazing Criswell,” was a television psychic, actor, entertainer, and professional predictor of wildly improbable futures. With spit-curled hair, sequined tuxedos, and the delivery of a game-show host announcing the apocalypse, Criswell turned being spectacularly wrong into an art form. read more...

Criswell grew up around his relatives’ funeral home in Indiana, and legend has it that he didn’t speak his first word until he was four years old. When he finally did, during a thunderstorm, it was supposedly a prediction: “the rain will stop.” From there, the man who would become The Amazing Criswell basically never stopped predicting.

By the early 1950s, Criswell had arrived on Los Angeles television and transformed himself into pure spectacle: perfectly styled hair, glittering tuxedos, and a booming voice seemingly designed to announce the end of civilization.

While hosting a local television program originally intended to sell vitamins, Criswell needed something to fill airtime. He began offering predictions about the future, and “Criswell Predicts” was born.

The predictions became increasingly outrageous. He foretold that Denver would be struck by a mysterious space ray capable of turning metal into rubber, resulting in catastrophic amusement-park accidents. He predicted outbreaks of mass cannibalism. Most dramatically, he announced that the entire planet would be destroyed on August 18, 1999 — his own 92nd birthday.

Criswell also claimed that he slept in a coffin, a habit supposedly developed during his childhood around the family funeral home. Whether it was genuine eccentricity or extraordinarily committed showmanship hardly mattered. It was perfectly Criswell.

Despite a career filled with spectacularly inaccurate prophecies, one prediction became particularly eerie. During an appearance on The Jack Paar Show in March 1963, Criswell reportedly predicted that President John F. Kennedy would not seek reelection in 1964 because something would happen to him in November. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22 of that year.

Criswell moved comfortably among Hollywood eccentrics. Mae West became a close friend, reportedly cooking for him and selling him old luxury automobiles for five dollars apiece. His friendship with filmmaker Ed Wood led to perhaps his most enduring screen appearance.

In Wood’s infamous Plan 9 from Outer Space, Criswell appears at the beginning and end of the film, solemnly addressing audiences about “future events such as these.” The movie eventually became legendary as one of cinema’s most celebrated bad films, and Criswell’s wonderfully theatrical performance became inseparable from its cult appeal.

For all the predictions and spectacle, Criswell apparently possessed a healthy awareness of his own act. When asked whether he genuinely had psychic abilities, he reportedly admitted that he once had the gift but lost it when he began accepting money for it.

Criswell died in Burbank, California, on October 4, 1982, at the age of 75 — seventeen years before his predicted destruction of Earth. The planet survived August 18, 1999.

But accuracy was never really the point. Criswell offered audiences something much more dependable: entertainment. And when it came to predicting his own ability to keep people watching, The Amazing Criswell was right every time.

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Hilmar Paul Gudmundsson, a lifelong South Bay waterman and longtime Los Angeles County lifeguard, spent decades watching over the beaches he loved. A competitive swimmer, mentor, teacher, and local legend, Paul was known for his booming laugh, kind heart, and a lifetime spent in and around the water. read more...

Paul was born on August 5, 1954, in Winnipeg, Canada. His family settled in Hermosa Beach, California, in 1956, and it was there that he began becoming the local waterman so many would later know and love.

His involvement in competitive swimming, water polo, and the Los Angeles County Junior Lifeguard program eventually led him to become an LA County Lifeguard in 1972. Paul was known as a fast and dependable guard who spent years working around the Manhattan Beach Pier, making countless rescues and mentoring generations of younger lifeguards.

Even late in life, Paul remained connected to the beach and the lifeguard community. During his final summer working the beach, his granddaughter Genevieve joined him there, happily playing in his foot bucket while he remained surrounded by the place and people he loved.

Competition was woven into Paul's personality. His name appears four times on the Judge Taplin Bell for lifeguard relays, and getting older never did much to slow him down. He continued swimming laps almost every day and even raced his own children during the annual recheck swims required for lifeguarding.

In 2014, Paul completed the Iceland Half-Marathon alongside his wife, despite openly complaining about how boring running was.

Paul also loved teaching. Whether the subject was Apple products, coffee, swimming, or almost anything else, people tended to walk away knowing more than they did before the conversation began. He spent three years as a Junior Lifeguard instructor in Torrance and Hermosa Beach, helping prepare and mentor future generations of guards.

A true South Bay local, one of Paul's most cutting insults was simply to call someone a “flatlander.”

His family remembered him as vibrant and funny, with a contagious booming laugh, a kind heart, and a deeply loving personality. His life was built around family, competition, teaching, service, and the ocean.

In lieu of flowers, donations were requested for the LA County Jr Lifeguard Trust Fund, continuing Paul's lifelong connection to the program that helped shape him and so many others.

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