HAPPY HENDRICKS DAY

Happy birthday to Jaws legend, Jeffrey Kramer, the actor who played Deputy Hendricks in Jaws and Jaws 2.

We know he is a huge fan of The Daily Jaws and the Jaws WeMake and we were privileged to meet him ahead of his birthday in our own back yahd, in London.

Dean, chief writer for the world's number one Jaws website, said: "I'd been lucky enough to interview Jeffrey over Zoom last year, when he said he'd love to catch up when he was next in town.

I'd just figured he was being polite and that in the then climate it wouldn't be possible for a long time, so imagine how thrilled we were when he messaged us at The Daily Jaws towers about meeting up. He's so easy to talk to and it feels like you have known him forever. A wonderful afternoon with a truly wonderful man. "

Jeffrey adds his autograph to the legendary The Daily Jaws board

You can catch Dean's Zoom interview with Jeffrey Kramer here, where you can discover how he ended up in Jaws 3D, how Richard Dreyfuss helped propel his career in a different direction, what happened when he met Steven Spielberg at an awards evening and how he shared a dressing room with Mayor Larry Vaughn, Murray Hamilton: Jeffrey Kramer Interview

It was a fin-tastic afternoon where we got to drink to his legs and jaw all things Jaws universe, as well as Santa Claus: The Movie and Clue.

Matt Stapleton of ‘What If? Stories’ with Jeffrey Kramer and a copy of the ‘What If? Stories Hendricks’ graphic novel.

Matt Stapleton, creator of ‘What If? Stories’ and the excellent ‘Hendricks’ graphic novel based on Jeffrey’s character from Jaws said “Whoever said ‘never meet your heroes’ has never met Jeff Kramer. It was a privilege to meet the man who bought Leonard Hendricks to life. I'm proud to know he likes the comic we created and it inspires me to keep making more.”

Naturally, we got him a suitable card, and he had no complaints about our printing.

(Left to right) The Daily Jaws Chief Writer Dean Newman, Jaws star Jeffrey Kramer and The Daily Jaws creator Ross Williams.

Ross, creator of The Daily Jaws, said: "It was an honour to hold court with Jaws royalty. He's so knowledgeable, not just about the films he has been in as an actor, but also about his careers in development at Fox and as an Emmy Award winning Producer. He is a real inspiration.”

"Jeffrey is an important part of the film's history as his family were from Martha's Vineyard and he was also involved in the first day of shooting in 1974, so he has some amazing insights and tales about the production of the Steven Spielberg classic. It was a true pleasure to spend some quality time with everyone's favourite Deputy."

Click here to discover more about the first day of filming on Jaws: May 2nd 1974 Principal Photography Begins On Jaws

We were also joined by the talented comic book writer, Matt Stapleton, who has written and published a graphic novel entitled Hendricks, that sees the Jaws Deputy head back to Amity, before tackling a movie monster of a different kind when he takes on the Graboids from the Tremors series.

As we bid Jeffrey a fond farewell and adieu, he was was driven away in his Uber. A great white Prious.

Words by Dean Newman

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