Keith Gordon talks about JAWS 2
Keith Gordon is one of those enigmatic actors seemingly capable of turning his talent to any part and creating something truly memorable. Whether it’s a supporting character in a blockbuster sequel or the lead in a classic horror, Gordon balanced bravado with vulberability.
Gordon was born in New York City to Mark, an actor and stage director, and Barbara Gordon.[His upbringing unfolded in an atheist Jewish household. At the tender age of twelve, Gordon found his calling in acting, ignited by James Earl Jones' performance in a Broadway rendition of Of Mice and Men
As an actor, Gordon's initial big-screen appearance was as the class clown Doug in Jaws 2, the 1978 sequel to the blockbuster hit Jaws. Following this, in 1979, Gordon featured in Bob Fosse's semi-autobiographical All That Jazz, portraying the teenage version of the protagonist Joe Gideon, portrayed by Roy Scheider, his co-star from Jaws 2. His trajectory continued with roles in two Brian De Palma films: as a film student in Home Movies (1979) and as the son of Angie Dickinson's character in the 1980 erotic thriller Dressed to Kill.
“It was basically 10 months that I was actually on the movie which is remarkable when you consider I’ve got about 20 lines in the whole film but between firing directors and re-shooting and hurricanes and shark sinking and it was a massive chunk of time.”
Keith Gordon shared the role of Joe Gideon with JAWS 2 co-star Roy Scheider in All The Jazz (1979)
Gordon notably portrayed Arnie Cunningham, the central character in the 1983 horror film Christine, directed by John Carpenter and based on Stephen King's novel. In the 1985 cult classic The Legend of Billie Jean, Gordon took on the role of Lloyd Muldaur, the ambitious son of a District Attorney. He also wrote and appeared in the 1986 film Static and portrayed Jason Melon, Rodney Dangerfield's character's son, in the comedy Back to School. Throughout these roles, he often embodied nerdy characters, earning the top spot in Cinematicals' Top 7 Most Convincing Nerds. His last onscreen film appearance to date was in 2001's Delivering Milo.
Keith Gordon (left) with JAWS 2 co-star Tom Dunlop
Transitioning from acting to directing, Gordon made his directorial debut in 1988 with The Chocolate War, a film centering on a student's rebellion against the strict hierarchies of his Catholic school. His directorial portfolio expanded to include the 1992 anti-war film A Midnight Clear, depicting American soldiers in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge, as well as Mother Night (based on Kurt Vonnegut's novel), Waking the Dead, and The Singing Detective.
He also directed segments of the mini-series Wild Palms and made an appearance in the 2006 Iraq War documentary Whose War?. Gordon's television directing credits encompass a diverse range of shows, such as Homicide: Life on the Street, Gideon's Crossing, Dexter, The Bridge, House, and the second and third seasons of Fargo.
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