One man that made a difference: A brief history of JAWS star Roy Scheider

Roy Richard Scheider, born on November 10, 1932, was a versatile American actor and amateur boxer. Renowned as "one of the most unique and distinguished of all Hollywood actors" by AllMovie, Scheider's career spanned from the 1970s to the early to mid-1980s, earning him nominations for two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a BAFTA Award.

Scheider's upbringing in Orange, New Jersey, saw him engage in sports, including baseball and boxing, before transitioning to a career in acting. His early performances in films like "The Curse of the Living Corpse" (1964) and television shows such as "N.Y.P.D." and "Coronet Blue" paved the way for his breakout roles in acclaimed films like "Klute" (1971) and "The French Connection" (1971).

Among his most notable roles are Chief Martin Brody in "Jaws" (1975) and its sequel "Jaws 2" (1978), NYPD Detective "Cloudy" Russo in "The French Connection" (1971), and choreographer Joe Gideon in "All That Jazz" (1979). Additionally, he portrayed Officer Frank Murphy in "Blue Thunder" (1983) and Dr. Heywood R. Floyd in "2010: The Year We Make Contact" (1984), the sequel to "2001: A Space Odyssey." On television, he starred as Captain Nathan Bridger in the science-fiction series "seaQuest DSV" (1993–1996).

Throughout his career, Scheider demonstrated his versatility, starring in diverse projects ranging from thrillers like "Marathon Man" (1976) to science-fiction epics like "2010: The Year We Make Contact" (1984). Despite setbacks such as the cancellation of "Perfect Strangers" and battles with cancer, Scheider continued to deliver compelling performances until his passing on February 10, 2008, leaving behind a legacy of excellence in both film and television.

Words by Ross Williams

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