The Jaws Cast: A Legacy of Stardom and Loss
The cast of the 1975 blockbuster Jaws helped forge one of Hollywood's most enduring thrillers, and their post-film journeys have been as varied as the characters they played. Richard Dreyfuss built a celebrated career, while others stepped away from the spotlight. Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Murray Hamilton have all since died.
These actors combined seasoned talent with fresh faces, with stars like Dreyfuss using the film as a springboard to major Hollywood success. Lee Fierro, who played the grieving Mrs. Kintner, dedicated decades to mentoring young actors at the Island Theatre Workshop before her death in 2020. Jeffrey Kramer transitioned from playing Deputy Hendricks to producing hit TV dramas like Ally McBeal and The Practice. Legendary performers such as Scheider and Shaw left behind enduring legacies before their passing.
Key Cast Members: Then and Now
Roy Scheider as Martin Brody
Roy Scheider, born 10 November 1932 in Orange, New Jersey, was already an Oscar nominee for The French Connection when he took on the role of Police Chief Martin Brody. He delivered acclaimed performances in All That Jazz and later led the sci-fi series seaQuest DSV. His final screen appearance was in the thriller Beautiful Blue Eyes, released after his death on 10 February 2008, from complications of a staph infection while battling multiple myeloma.
Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper
Richard Dreyfuss, born 29 October 1947 in Brooklyn, New York, played the brilliant oceanographer Matt Hooper. The role launched a remarkable run that included an Academy Award for Best Actor for The Goodbye Girl (1977). He also starred in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Stand by Me, and earned another Oscar nomination for Mr. Holland's Opus. Dreyfuss remains active as an actor and public speaker, and promotes American civics education through the Dreyfuss Civics Initiative.
Robert Shaw as Quint
Robert Shaw, born 9 August 1927 in Westhoughton, Lancashire, England, gave an unforgettable performance as the relentless shark hunter Quint. Before Jaws, he had earned acclaim as a Shakespearean stage actor and Oscar-nominated film star, with roles in From Russia with Love and The Sting. After Jaws, he appeared in Robin and Marian, Black Sunday, and Force 10 from Navarone. He died of a heart attack in August 1978 while driving in County Mayo, Ireland.
Lorraine Gary as Ellen Brody
Lorraine Gary, born 16 August 1937 in New York City, played Ellen Brody in Jaws, Jaws 2, and Jaws: The Revenge (1987). She also starred in Steven Spielberg's 1941 and the comedy Car Wash. After retiring, she devoted time to philanthropy, serving on the Human Rights Watch Women's Rights Advisory Committee and supporting organisations like Girls Learn International.
Susan Backlinie as Chrissie Watkins
Susan Backlinie, born 1 September 1946 in Miami, Florida, played Chrissie Watkins, the first shark victim in the iconic opening scene. A trained stuntwoman and animal trainer, she appeared in 1941, Grizzly, and The Great Muppet Caper. She left acting in the 1980s and worked as a computer accountant in California until her death in May 2024.
Jeffrey Kramer as Deputy Leonard Hendricks
Jeffrey Kramer, born 15 July 1945 in New York City, played Deputy Hendricks and reprised the role in Jaws 2. He appeared in TV shows like M*A*S*H, Happy Days, Baretta, and The Incredible Hulk, and films including Halloween II and Clue. He later produced hit series such as Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, and The Practice.
Murray Hamilton as Mayor Larry Vaughn
Murray Hamilton, born 24 March 1923 in Washington, North Carolina, played the stubborn Mayor Larry Vaughn. Known for roles in The Graduate and The Hustler, he reprised the mayor in Jaws 2 (1978). He died of cancer in September 1986 at age 63, shortly before a planned cameo in Jaws: The Revenge.
Lee Fierro as Mrs. Kintner
Lee Fierro, born 13 February 1929 in New York City, played the grieving mother who slaps Chief Brody. A Martha's Vineyard resident, she co-founded the Island Theatre Workshop in 1974 and mentored young performers. She reprised her role in Jaws: The Revenge (1987) and died from COVID-19 complications in April 2020 at age 91.
Carl Gottlieb as Meadows
Carl Gottlieb, born 18 May 1938 in New York City, played Meadows, the editor of The Amity Gazette. He was also co-screenwriter, revising the script during production. He co-wrote All of Me (1984) with Steve Martin, penned Jaws 2 and Jaws 3-D, and wrote for series including The Bob Newhart Show, Remington Steele, and The Twilight Zone.
Jeffrey Voorhees as Alex Kintner
Jeffrey Voorhees, born 22 August 1962 in Massachusetts, played Alex Kintner, the young shark attack victim. Cast in local auditions on Martha's Vineyard, it was his only major screen role. He later became a restaurant owner in Florida and makes occasional appearances at horror conventions.
Chris Rebello as Michael Brody
Chris Rebello, born 8 August 1963 in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, played Chief Brody's eldest son. He stayed on Martha's Vineyard and became a football coach at Martha's Vineyard High School. He died in 2000 from a heart attack.
Jay Mello as Sean Brody
Jay Mello, born 16 June 1968 in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, played Sean Brody, remembered for copying his father's expressions. After Jaws, he left acting and became a building contractor.
Surviving Cast Members and Behind-the-Scenes Facts
Few of the main cast are still alive. Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Carl Gottlieb, Jeffrey Kramer, Jeffrey Voorhees, and Jay Mello are among the survivors. Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Murray Hamilton, Susan Backlinie, Lee Fierro, and others have passed away.
Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw frequently clashed on set due to contrasting personalities and acting styles, which added to their characters' convincing rivalry aboard the Orca.
Steven Spielberg was 27 during principal photography in 1974 and turned 28 shortly before the film premiered in June 1975.
Jaws was filmed primarily in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, with other scenes in Chilmark and Aquinnah, together serving as the fictional Amity Island.
The Jaws cast left an unforgettable mark on cinema, with performances that continue to captivate audiences more than 50 years later. While some stars enjoyed long Hollywood careers, others retired or have since passed away, but their legacy lives on through one of the greatest thrillers ever made.
