In a bit of unfortunate news hitting the wire this morning, Dick Durock, the man who played the titular role of beloved DC comic character “Swamp Thing,” perished last week at the age of 72.
Durock, the physically imposing ex-marine, donned the brooding body suit and extensive green-makeup in two feature films ( Wes Craven’s SWAMP THING, 1982 & RETURN OF SWAMP THING, 1989) as well as over 70 TV episodes in the early 90s series aptly titled “Swamp Thing.”
Also a formidable stuntman, Durock displayed his talent in a spate of film and TV projects, spanning 3 decades, ranging all genres from comedy (DELIRIOUS) to horror (THE MONSTER SQUAD), from sci-fi (“Star Trek”), action (THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE), even to western (SILVERADO).
The dude had the ability to play a hulking lead in something like “Swamp Thing”, turn around a rock a guest spot on “Married With Children”. In one of my personal favorite credits, Durock played the defending pie-eating champ Bill Travis in the 1986 flick STAND BY ME. Who knew?
Durock’s last acting role came in 1997s THE HUNTED, his final stunt work in 1999s HARD TIME: HOSTAGE HOTEL.
Dick is survived by 3 sisters and a significant other.
RIP Swampy, we’ll miss you!