Few people haven’t heard of ‘Creature from the Black Lagoon,’ the classic 1954 horror film that has become an iconic staple in the genre.
One of the highlights of the film is undoubtedly the ‘Gill-man,’ with its distinctive scaly appearance. Interestingly, the original design for this iconic creature was crafted by a woman.
For a long time, people commonly thought that Bud Westmore, the film’s make-up artist, masterminded the creation of the Gill-man.
Millicent Patrick, an accomplished actress, make-up artist, and Disney animator, was the first to bring the Gill-man to life. The design and sculpting of the Gill-man’s body and head were carried out by Jack Kevan and Chris Mueller Jr.
During the production process, Bud Westmore often sent his design team out of the studio to stage photos of himself working on the Gill-man character.
Before Millicent Patrick’s iconic design, early photos of the Gill-man reveal a very different appearance that doesn’t quite measure up to today’s legendary look.
Millicent’s depiction of the creature took its design to a whole new level. Only after Bud Westmore’s passing did Millicent and other artists from the film reveal that she was the true mastermind behind the concept.
Millicent Patrick, originally Mildred Elizabeth Fulva di Rossi, was born in El Paso, Texas, in 1915. At the age of six, her family relocated to California.
She spent a short time at Glendale Community College before deciding to hone her drawing and illustration skills at the prestigious Chouinard Art Institute.
Millicent’s career had several historic milestones. She started at Walt Disney Studios in 1939 and, within a year, became one of the first female animators at the company. Her animation contributions include work on “Fantasia,” “Dumbo,” and “Night on Bald Mountain.”
After her tenure with Disney, Millicent pursued a short-lived career in acting and modeling. Her professional path intersected with Bud Westmore, whom she later worked under at Universal Studios.
She worked in the special effects make-up department on several notable films. Her credits include ‘Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ and ‘The Mole People.’
In 1953, Millicent started creating designs for the Gill-man featured in *Creature from the Black Lagoon*.
Millicent’s design was so iconic that Universal Studios wanted to send her on a press tour to promote the film titled “The Beauty Who Created The Beast.” However, Bud Westmore insisted that she credit him entirely for the creature’s design during the tour.
Millicent’s departure from Universal Studios is widely believe to be linked to Bud Westmore’s jealousy. After leaving the studio, she chose not to pursue any more behind-the-scenes work. Instead, she focused on smaller acting roles for the rest of her career.
In 1963, she wed voice actor Lee Trent. Despite their divorce after six years, they reportedly maintained a sporadic relationship afterward.
Millicent, who faced breast cancer and Parkinson’s disease, died on February 24, 1998, at 82 years old.
Despite not receiving the recognition she deserved during her remarkable career, Millicent’s legacy endures. Authors and researchers continuously explore her role as the original designer of a famous American cinema monster.
