A prince among deputies: A profile of JAWS series star Jeffrey Kramer
Hello, Islanders,
In early 1974 an article ran in the Vineyard Gazette with details of an upcoming film coming to the Island and a call for local actors. A reader dropped a line to the production company, not only informing them of her actor son but noting that they wouldn’t have to pay for a hotel room for him because he could just stay with her. That young actor was Jeffrey C. Kramer.
On February 6, 1975, Jeff introduced himself to a national television audience when he appeared in the “Snow Job” episode of “Barney Miller.” I was always a fan of the show, even more when, in one episode, Barney is asked who he thinks should play him in the movie version of Detective Harris’ book, “Blood on the Badge?” His reply? “Roy Scheider.”
Four months later saw the release of JAWS,with Kramer’s Deputy Lenny Hendricks becoming a fan favorite. Almost five decades later it’s not uncommon for a fan to call out to him, “Let Polly do the printing!”
For the rest of the decade, he worked steadily in both film and television, appearing on such beloved shows as “M*A*S*H,” “Laverne and Shirley,” “Baretta,” “Soap,” and “Chico and the Man,” as well as co-starring with Jack Elam in his own series, “Struck by Lightning.” He also appeared in films like “Hollywood Boulevard,” “You Light Up My Life,” and, of course, JAWS 2.
However, his appearance in JAWS 2 comes win an explanation. As originally written, Hendricks was part of a duo of deputies (the other to be played by Marshall Efron), who played more like Laurel and Hardy then police officers. Upset with the way the character was written, Kramer did the unthinkable for a young actor – he quit. Once the film’s new director, Jeannot Szwarc, was brought on board the first thing he asked was “where’s the other guy?” Kramer was brought back, much to the glee of JAWS fans. It should also be noted that, even today, Kramer and Szwarc remain the best of friends.
The next decade found him again appearing in popular television programs like “The Incredible Hulk,” and “Happy Days” as well as featured roles in films like Halloween II, Heartbeeps, Clue and Santa Claus: the Movie, which reteamed him with director Szwarc.
A new decade took Kramer into a new direction, beginning his producing career in 1992 with the “Bob Dylan: 30thAnniversary Concert Celebration.” In 1997, he produced two of the most popular shows of the decade, comedy “Ally McBeal” and courtroom drama “The Practice.” In 1998, “The Practice” won the Emmy Award for the year’s Best Dramatic Series. That was nothing compared to 1999 when Kramer, and his co-producers, became the first to win Emmy Awards for Best Dramatic Series and Best Comedy series in the same year. Counting the Daytime Emmy Award he was nominated for in 2007 as producer of “Bigfoot Presents: Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks,” Kramer has received a total of six Emmy nominations. He is currently producing the upcoming series “H-Town” for CBS.
Watch our interviews with Jeffrey Kramer below
Words by Michael A Smith. Michael is co-author of Jaws 2: The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel. You can order the book by contacting Michael at OsFanMike@aol.com.
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