Julie Adams, the actress best-known for playing the bathing damsel in distress in 1954’s monster movieCreature from the Black Lagoonpassed away on Sunday, February 3rd in Los Angeles. She was 92-years old. Adams' official website made the announcement. She was a leading lady in the 1950s for Universal and appeared in many of their projects over the years and continued to work for six decades. While she is arguably best-known for the horror classicCreature From the Black Lagoon, she had a number of notable roles.
Julie Adamswas born as Betty May Adams on October 17th, 1926 in Waterloo, Iowa. Her family moved around a lot when she was a child, but she spent 8 years in Arkansas, which is the longest that her family ever stayed in one place. In 1946, at the age of 19, Adams was crowned Little Miss Arkansas and later moved out to Hollywood to start an acting career. Upon arrival, she decided that she needed a name change.
The studio chose the name Julia Adams, which she used for the first few years of her career and later changed it to Julie Andrews because she liked the way that it sounded better than Julia. WhileCreature From the Black Lagoonis what the actress is arguably best-known for, she also starred with Donald O’Connor inFrancis Joins the WACS(1954), with Elvis Presley inTickle Me(1965), with Dennis Hopper inThe Last Movie(1971), and with John Wayne in McQ (1974). When asked aboutCreature From the Black Lagoonlater in her career, she had this to say.
“I think the best thing about the picture is thatwe do feel for the creature. We feel for him and his predicament.”
Julie Adams also appeared onMurder, She Wrotewith Angela Lansbury in the 1980s and early 90s as the eccentric Eve Simpson. Before that, Adams appeared in episodes ofPerry MasonandQuincy, while also played Jimmy Stewart’s wife onThe Jimmy Stewart Show. Adams appeared inThe Andy Griffith Showas Mary Simpson and took roles onCagney and Laceyand even had a role in the originalThe Incredible Hulktelevision series.
After a long career, Julie Adams wrote a book about her life titled The Lucky Southern Star: Reflections From The Black Lagoon, which was published in 2011. Guillermo del Toro paid tribute to Adams late Sunday night on social media by saying, “I mourn Julie Adams passing. It hurts in a place deep in me, where monsters swim.” It is a sad day for horror and monster fans all over the world, but her performances will live on forever. Adams is survived by her two sons, two daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. The news was first announced by theJulie Adamswebsite. Rest In Peace, Julie Adams.
