Roy Scheider (10 November 1932 – 10 February 2008) was an American actor known for an intense, grounded screen presence and a string of defining roles in 1970s cinema. He began in theatre and television before breaking through in film with The French Connection (1971), then became internationally famous as police chief Martin Brody in Jaws (1975), anchoring the film with a believable mix of fear, determination, and authority.
Scheider followed Jaws with a run of major performances, including the driven NYPD detective Buddy Russo in The Seven-Ups (1973), the obsessive government scientist in The Marathon Man (1976), and an Academy Award-nominated lead role as choreographer Joe Gideon in Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz (1979). His later work included Blue Thunder (1983) and 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984) and a wide range of television and film roles. Remembered for playing capable professionals under pressure, Scheider remains closely associated with an era of American filmmaking defined by grit, realism, and sharp character work.
Blue Thunder
Blue Thunder was filmed around Los Angeles, using the city’s rooftops, streets, freeways, river channels and skyline as part of the action.
Jaws
Jaws was shot mainly on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, and the island is absolutely central to its identity.
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