I always found Roy Scheider creepy, and I mean that as a compliment. The veteran character actor, who died yesterday at 75, may be best remembered for starring as the befuddled Chief Brody in Jaws, but throughout his celebrated four-decade film career, he always brought a dark edginess to his roles. (Even in his essentially comic Jaws performance, he displays the fidgety desperation of a man clearly in over his head.) Scheider specialized in playing tough, wiry, cynical, worldly-wise guys like cops, spies, gangsters, and politicians. He first gained notice as Jane Fonda’s pimp in Klute (1971) and earned his first Oscar nomination as Gene Hackman’s equally hard-boiled police partner in The French Connection the same year. He wasn’t afraid to be unlikable on screen; his second Oscar nod (and his crowning career achievement) was his performance as the womanizing jerk genius (pictured) in Bob Fosse’s semi-autobiographical All That Jazz (1979).
The ’70s were Scheider’s decade, full of meaty roles like these, as well as such grimy classic thrillers as The Seven-Ups (1973), Marathon Man (1976), and Sorcerer (1977). Scheider continued to do fine work after that, working consistently in mostly unmemorable films, though there were some standouts — sci-fi sequel 2010 (1984), Elmore Leonard adaptation 52 Pick-Up (1986), the surreal Naked Lunch (1991, featuring what may have been the creepiest role of Scheider’s career, as the reptilian Dr. Benway), and family drama The Myth of Fingerprints (1997), where he played a patriarch who hits on his son’s girlfriend. Like so many of Scheider’s roles, it was a performance oozing with oily, rancid charm. He made moviegoers shudder, often with revulsion, always with delight.
All I’ve thought of since I heard this sad news was the last scene in All That Jazz.
Well, that and “he’s gonna need a bigger boat.”
No love for Blue Thunder? Aside from Jaws, that was probably his biggest hit.
I’m sorry top report that but I liked him in Seaquest!!!
Pai, that last scene in “All That Jazz” was a suitable send-off, no? He gave a ridiculously good performance in that movie.
I second “Blue Thunder”. Not only did it become a short lived cult cop drama, but Roy really stood out in that film. RIP Mr. Scheider.
Roy Scheider was one of my favorite actor from the past three decades. The star of THE FRENCH CONNECTION (still my favorite cop thriller of all time!), JAWS, SORCERER, JAWS 2, ALL THAT JAZZ, BLUE THUNDER and 2010 always seemed to have memorable dialogue from his films, in addition to, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”. I will also remember him from JAWS 2 with this one: “I know what a shark looks like ’cause I’ve seen one up close! And you better do something about this one, because I don’t intend to go through that hell again!”
I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Roy Scheider in 1997 in front of a movie theater in Southampton, Long Island, having just seen L.A. CONFIDENTIAL. He was a pleasure to talk to and actually seemed impressed with me when I told him what I did for a living (architect). I will sincerely miss him and will look upon (most of) his movies with greater affection and appreciation.
Most people look at me like I’m a crazy person when i say one of my all-time favourite movies is All That Jazz. But I love that movie, and Roy Scheider just owned it. An amazing performance.
Ditto the love for Seaquest DSV. Other than the talking dolphin, that show was terrific.
Jaws is maybe my all-time favorite movie and one of the biggest reasons is the great characters. If I was ever a police chief in a small vacation community, I’d want to be Chief Brody. Rest in peace, Roy. You were awesome!
Jaws is maybe my all-time favorite movie and one of the biggest reasons is the great characters. If I was ever a police chief in a small vacation community, I’d want to be Chief Brody. Rest in peace, Roy. You were awesome!
he was perfect in All That Jazz and that ending is one of the best endings in film history.
I always thought that Roy Scheider was on of the sexiest man in movies. I loved him in Jaws of course, especially with those sexy short shorts(he had some awesome legs). He was also good in Marathon Man with Dustin Hoffman. He wasnt in the movie long but he was so sexy. I am very sorry to hear of his passing. He was one of my favourite actors. RIP Roy. God Bless!!
I always thought that Roy Scheider was on of the sexiest man in movies. I loved him in Jaws of course, especially with those sexy short shorts(he had some awesome legs). He was also good in Marathon Man with Dustin Hoffman. He wasnt in the movie long but he was so sexy. I am very sorry to hear of his passing. He was one of my favourite actors. RIP Roy. God Bless!!
I loved Roy in All That Jazz, that’s the perf I associate with him the most…I forgot he was in Jaws, since the dang shark all I seem to remember and being scared to go into my own backyard pool…
Roy, you ruled, we loved you and still do…thanks for being a class dude…