Don Megowan

Don Megowan (May 24, 1922 – June 26, 1981) was an American actor. He played the Gill-man on land in The Creature Walks Among Us, the final part of the Creature from the Black Lagoon trilogy.

Early life Don Megowan was born in Inglewood, California to Robert and Leila (née Dale) Megowan. His mother Leila worked as a negative cutter for Pathé. At Megowan was very active in sports, playing baseball, football, and throwing discus. He went to the University of Southern California on a football scholarship before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Career Megowan starred in the science fiction films The Werewolf in the role of Sheriff Jack Haines, in The Creation of the Humanoids (1962) as a captain in the anti-robot Order of Flesh and Blood, who must stop the Humanoids, and in The Creature Walks Among Us as the Gill-man.

Megowan also appeared in Westerns: Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955), The Great Locomotive Chase (1956), Snowfire (1958), Tarzan and the Valley of Gold (1966), The Devil's Brigade (1968), and Mel Brooks Blazing Saddles (1974), in which he is credited as "Gum Chewer," but actually played the cowboy who walked up on stage to Madeline Kahn during her saloon number.

In 1962, he starred with Cameron Mitchell in the television series, The Beachcomber. He guest starred in various programs, including the Westerns: Gunsmoke (twice), Wagon Train (twice), The Californians, The Tall Man, Maverick, Cimarron City, Have Gun–Will Travel, Tales of Wells Fargo, The Rifleman, Lawman, Cheyenne, Colt .45, Bonanza, The Americans, Rawhide, and Daniel Boone. He was also cast in episodes of such series as Angel, U.S. Marshal, Get Smart, and Fantasy Island.

Death Megowan, a smoker from age 12 to 48, died of throat cancer at age 59. His weight had dwindled from nearly 300 pounds to barely 150.

Filmography

1951: The Mob .... Bruiser - Big Longshoreman at Union Hall (uncredited) 1951: On the Loose .... Club Emerald Headwaiter (uncredited) 1951: The Kid from Amarillo .... Rakim 1953: Sangaree .... River Pirate (uncredited) 1954: Prince Valiant .... Sir Lancelot (uncredited) 1955: Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier .... William Travis 1955: To Catch a Thief .... Detective at Costume Ball (uncredited) 1955: A Lawless Street .... Dooley Brion 1956: Anything Goes .... Henri (uncredited) 1956: The Creature Walks Among Us .... Gill-man on land (uncredited) 1956: The Great Locomotive Chase .... Marion A. Ross 1956: The Werewolf .... Sheriff Jack Haines 1956: Gun the Man Down .... Ralph Farley 1957: The Delicate Delinquent .... Policeman (uncredited) 1957: Hell Canyon Outlaws .... Henchman Walt 1957: The Story of Mankind .... Early Man 1958: Snowfire .... Mike McGowan 1958: The Man Who Died Twice .... T. J. Brennan 1958: A Lust to Kill .... Cheney Holland 1958: Money, Women and Guns .... John Briggs 1958: The Buccaneer .... Pirate with Axe (uncredited) 1958: Tales of Frankenstein (TV Short) .... The Monster 1958: Cheyenne.... Gregg Dewey in Episode "Dead to Rights" 1959: The Jayhawkers! .... China 1959: Have Gun Will Travel ... Huston in Episode "First, Catch a Tiger" 1959: Bonanza .... John C. Regan in Episode "The Magnificent Adah" 1960: Road of the Giants / La strada dei giganti .... Clint Farrell 1961: Guns of the Black Witch .... Jean 1961: Cheyenne.... Sheriff Tom Grant 1962: The Creation of the Humanoids .... Capt. Kenneth Cragis 1962: The Beachcomber (TV Series) .... Capt.Huckabee 1963: For Love or Money .... Gregor Garrison 1966: Tarzan and the Valley of Gold .... Mr. Train 1967: Border Lust 1968: The Devil's Brigade .... Luke Pehelan 1968: If He Hollers, Let Him Go! .... Officer 1974: Scream of the Wolf (TV Movie) .... Grant 1974: Blazing Saddles .... Gum Chewer 1974: Melvin Purvis: G-Man (TV Movie) .... Hamburger Stand Man 1974: Truck Turner .... Garrity 1975: The Kansas City Massacre (TV Movie) .... Boss Stringer 1977: The Great Gundown .... Baldy 1979: Mrs. R's Daughter (TV Movie) .... Larsen (final film role)