It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of TSISW‘s great friend and ally, not to mention star of JAWS, Roy Scheider. We had hoped that the next headline you’d see on this page would be good news about the progress of the documentary, but sadly, such is not the case. According to his wife Brenda Seimer, Roy died on Sunday afternoon in Little Rock, Arkansas of complications from a staph infection having suffered from multiple myeloma for several years.

New York Times reporter Dave Kehr writes:

Born in 1932 in Orange, N.J., Mr. Scheider earned his distinctive broken nose in the New Jersey Diamond Gloves Competition. He studied at Rutgers and at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., where he graduated as a history major with the intention of going to law school. He served three years in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of first lieutenant. When he was discharged, he returned to Franklin and Marshall to star in a production of Richard III.

His professional debut was as Mercutio in a 1961 New York Shakespeare Festival production ofRomeo and Juliet. While continuing to work onstage, he made his movie debut in The Curse of the Living Corpse (1964), a low-budget horror film by the prolific schlockmeister Del Tenney. “He had to bend his knees to die into a moat full of quicksand up in Connecticut”, recalled Ms. Seimer, a documentary filmmaker. “He loved to demonstrate that”.

In 1977 Mr. Scheider worked with Mr. Friedkin again in Sorcerer, a big-budget remake of Henri-Georges Clouzot’s 1953 French thriller, The Wages of Fear, about transporting a dangerous load of nitroglycerine in South America.

Offered a leading role in The Deer Hunter (1979), Mr. Scheider had to turn it down in order to fulfill his contract with Universal for a sequel to Jaws. (The part went to Robert De Niro.)

Jaws 2 failed to recapture the appeal of the first film, but Mr. Scheider bounced back, accepting the principal role in Bob Fosse’s autobiographical phantasmagoria of 1979, All That Jazz. Equipped with Mr. Fosse’s Mephistophelean beard and manic drive, Mr. Scheider’s character, Joe Gideon, gobbled amphetamines in an attempt to stage a new Broadway show while completing the editing of a film (and pursuing a parade of alluring young women) — a monumental act of self-abuse that leads to open-heart surgery. This won Mr. Scheider an Academy Award nomination in the best actor category. (Dustin Hoffman won that year, for Kramer vs. Kramer.)

In 1980, Mr. Scheider returned to his first love, the stage, where his performance in a production of Harold Pinter’s Betrayal opposite Blythe Danner and Raul Julia earned him the Drama League of New York award for distinguished performance. Although he continued to be active in films, notably in Robert Benton’s Still of the Night (1982) and John Badham’s action spectacular Blue Thunder(1983), he moved from leading men to character roles, including an American spy in Fred Schepisi’sRussia House (1990) and a calculating Mafia don in Romeo Is Bleeding (1993).

One of the most memorable performances of his late career was as the sinister, wisecracking Dr. Benway in David Cronenberg’s adaptation of William S. Burroughs’s Naked Lunch (1991).

Living in Sag Harbor, Mr. Scheider continued to appear in films and lend his voice to documentaries, becoming, Ms. Seimer said, increasingly politically active. With the poet Kathy Engle, he helped to found the Hayground School in Bridgehampton, dedicated to creating an innovative, culturally diverse learning environment for local children. At the time of his death, Mr. Scheider was involved in a project to build a film studio in Florence, Italy, for a series about the history of the Renaissance.

Besides his wife, his survivors include three children, Christian Verrier Scheider and Molly Mae Scheider, with Ms. Seimer, and Maximillia Connelly Lord, from an earlier marriage, to Cynthia Bebout; a brother, Glenn Scheider of Summit, N.J.; and two grandchildren.

For us as producers (and fans) it was a real blow to hear the news today. Having had the incredible privelege to work with Roy and get to know him personally, there is a sense of deep loss we feel which, for me, is hard to convey in words. As those who’ve been following the progress of TSISWalready know, Mr. Scheider has been a sort of godfather to us since the outset. His involvement at that early stage truly opened up the Jaws world to us in ways we could not have imagined. Always charming, and enthusiastic, Roy couldn’t have been more supportive, and for that we are forever grateful. Even as I write these words only within an hour of hearing the news, I feel an acute tightness in my chest. This has hit me hard. I was so looking forward to contacting him with good news about the fate of the documentary he had helped shepherd along. I can only be glad to know that he did have a finished screener copy of the show for some time and was very happy with it.

Since I was a child, juiced with Jawsmania and enamoured with Mr. Scheider’s performance as Chief Brody, I had always wanted to meet the man who was such a big part of my childhood memories. That wish came gloriously true on, of all days, my birthday in March of 2005. What a way to celebrate… at Roy Scheider’s Long Island beachfront home, swigging root beers with the Chief himself. That is a day none of us will ever forget. We spent a few quality hours with him, first conducting his on-camera interview, then chatting with him about his many other films. We were even asked if we’d be willing to help him change his tire which he thought might have a slow leak. Upon checking the tire in his garage however, it didn’t end up needing it…to our disappointment. I know it’s a bit selfish, but we’d have been honored to oblige him with the matter.

When we met up with Roy again to record his narration, it was like seeing an old friend. He asked how things were progressing and was thrilled to hear how they had since our first time together. He was genuinely impressed with our script, which meant the world to us. Notwithstanding, there were a couple of humorous moments during the recording session when he found himself a bit tongue-tied with what we had written. In those rare instances, he offered his own wording, which of course, we were thrilled with. This is, after all, the man who improvised the line “We’re gonna need a bigger boat”. One of the great delights for us in having Roy do the narration was that he could provide first-person commentary as we went along. It was nothing short of awesome to hear Roy, after reading a section, to giddily share his recollections pertaining to the point at hand. Priceless.

My affection and thoughts go with you Roy, and to the loved ones you left behind. Godspeed Roy, good friend, tremendous actor, you were a prince as far as I’m concerned. I will always treasure the time I was able to spend with you and will truly miss you, dear friend. In no small way because of you, the shark still keeps working. Rest in Peace.

-Erik Hollander

Shocked. That was how I felt when I heard that Roy had passed away today. Roy was truly the patron saint of TSISW. I remember how excited (and jealous!) I was when I saw the photos the guys sent of their time spent with Roy, one of the first interviews for TSISW. I wished I was there too, and I held out hope that at some point I would get a chance to meet him and tell him how much I appreciated and admired his work not only in JAWS but in his other films as well. When Roy agreed to help us out with TSISW by becoming an Associate Producer, it looked like my wish might someday become a reality. Roy’s name gave our project instant credibility with interviewees, and was a major stepping stone in shaping what TSISW would become.

Many, many months later, Roy himself suggested that he narrate TSISW, and it just made sense. The man that helped start things off for the project and that had been with us on our journey along the way would do the same thing for the TSISW viewers. The ensuing narration session with Roy is one of the highlights of my life. I spent many hours stuck in New York traffic desperately trying to get to the studio only to finally arrive after Roy had left for the night. My good fortune was that Roy had agreed to give us some more time the next morning, and I finally got to meet him. He was gracious, friendly and genuine as well as feisty and full of energy. It was hard to believe that he was a man suffering from cancer. My favorite memory of that day was our lunch with Roy, and getting a chance to talk with him about his wonderful career.

Now over a year later, as TSISW gets ever closer to a release, we lose Roy. I am shocked and saddened that the world has lost such an amazing actor and friend to TSISW. My thoughts and prayers are with his family today. Roy will be missed.

- Jake Gove

The Shark is Still Working owes so much of its excellence to Roy. Roy was the first big name to do an interview. Who knows what TSISW‘s outcome would have been if Roy Scheider didn’t step out in tremendous faith and allow four nobodies into his home to turn a camera on him to talk aboutJaws? If he hadn’t done that, perhaps there’d be no Spielberg, no Dreyfuss, or not one of the magical moments that made TSISW something we can all be to incredibly proud of.

Beyond his willingness to be interviewed, it’s been well documented here that he asked us about being TSISW‘s narrator. This allowed us to go from being four fans basking in the presence of their childhood hero, to staying in touch with him and literally becoming his colleagues and friends. Laying that narration down was a collaboration that will always be one of my favorite experiences making this documentary.

I so appreciate Roy’s kindness, and the way he believed in us. He was so complimentary of our efforts every step of the way. He was someone who appreciated having been a part of a film project that so many people would love even thirty years after he?d done it. That touched his heart, and I’d have to think that that is why he gave to us as much as he did. I can’t be thankful enough.

So this is a very sad goodbye, indeed. Farewell and adieu, Roy. You done good. As Hendricks said to you in Jaws 2, “I think you?re the greatest, Chief!”

- James Gelet

I am sitting here at 10:45 and have just heard that one of my childhood heroes has died. The hero I am referring to is Roy Scheider. Many of you know my connection with the film JAWS and the documentary that I have produced with my partners. Roy was an integral part of that project. Roy was one of the first big interviews I secured for the project and then became an associate Producer as well as ultimately narrating the film.

The day we met Roy was one of my favorite days. I remember pulling up to his home on Long Island and actually becoming really scared that this man would not be the heroic Chief of Police, or the brother of the Marathon Man, Popeye Doyle’s partner Cloudy in The French Connection, the Bob Fosse inspired Gideon, or even the pilot of the Blue Thunder.

As we entered his home that looked out over the beautiful Atlantic Ocean, who we met was one of the most genuine and caring individuals who leapt into our project with enthusiastic abandon. As we set up the shot, he made us tea and we shared some insights into each others lives. He wasn’t just passing time, he was genuinely interested. He asked if I had children and he laughed when I told him I had two daughters. He said I was really “in for it”. We continued and I said how lucky I was because I originally was not able to have kids. I am a cancer survivor, and as we spoke about the disease, he invited me into the next room. We entered his home office where he had two mementos hanging on the wall. One was a framed picture from his Broadway appearance in Tartuffe and then a picture of him from All That Jazz. Then he showed me a line of prescription pill bottles lining a small shelf. I realized by the names that Roy had cancer. He shared that with me. And then I watched this man give us a compelling and absolutely mesmerizing interview about his career.

One of the fun moments that we asked each member of the cast to do for us was to recite their favorite line that their character spoke in the film. We would use this as a JAWS in 30 seconds segment during the credits of the documentary. As we said action I watched as Roy went back 30 years, staring at us through the camera and stating gravely that “We’re gonna need a Bigger Boat.” He did that for us and I must tell you it was mesmerizing to watch him as an actor go through the memories in his head and placing himself in that moment and acting that line.

We talked about Joe Gideon and he intimated that it was his favorite role. We talked about acting and process. And then we shared our rare photos with him, some of which he had never seen. He was like a kid. You know how you feel when you look at a picture from your youth, a picture that takes you back to a time and place? He journeyed back. It was a glorious afternoon. We said our goodbyes and we hugged. He would beat it I thought. He can do anything… he’s the Chief of Police.

As we left, I remember being so grateful that I had spent the time with him. We shared phone calls through the past few years and Roy always kept a brave face.

The documentary continued, and life moved on. I haven’t spoken with him in almost six months and now I hear he has passed on. When I think about JAWS and Roy, I am aware that he was one of my first cinematic heroes. I was inspired by his performance, the impact which combined with others shaped my life. JAWS has been a part of my life for 33 years. It is such an odd feeling. It brings a evaluation of my own mortality and a realization that I am not that six-year-old playing, imitating his character in a small pool during the summer of 75.

I am grateful that I spent time with the man, and was able to call him a friend.

- J. Michael Roddy

Roy Scheider has always been my hero. He is, and will always be my favorite actor and I’ve seen every movie he’s ever been in. When a movie opened in the theater, I was always there. As a kid, I watched Roy hitting home runs in Tiger Town, busting thugs in The French Connection, flying a state-of the-art helicopter in Blue Thunder, as well as going to space in 2010; but Roy’s turn as Chief Brody in Jaws and Jaws 2 started it all…

I always appreciated Roy’s endurance and persistence in film and TV. You could tell he always tried his best. He was a professional actor who always strove to test himself and evolve as an artist. Roy Scheider was a class act and family man, whose star out-shines so many of those who seek to “entertain” today.

Through The Shark Is Still Working I had the opportunity to write Roy and let him know how much he meant to me as an artist. After receiving my letter, Roy was kind enough to speak with me on the phone and I’m so glad I was able to let him know what he meant to me. In my letter, I had mentioned to Roy that my mother was suffering from cancer and Roy was diligent in asking about her well-being. I told Mr. Scheider about her condition and wished him well with his own fight. He was so kind and gracious to me. I’ll never forget the end of our last conversation, when Roy said “send your mother my love, and save some of that love for yourself.”

I now send my love to the Scheider family…

Roy Scheider will always be my hero. God bless him…

- Michael McCormack, Composer