Looking at Roy Scheider on screen you'd never think that at one time the lean, muscular actor was seriously overweight. Due to several childhood illnesses, including rheumatic fever, it wasn't until he was almost a teenager that Scheider was able to lead a normal active life. Growing up on the Atlantic coast of New Jersey, Scheider hurled himself into the ocean and swam his way to fitness. He also took up boxing, which is where he earned his very distinguished profile, thanks to a broken nose in a Golden Gloves battle. Roy attended Franklin and Marshall college where he dabbled in theatre, and then spent several years in the Air Force. Upon his discharge, he headed to New York City, where he began a stage career.

In 1964 he accompanied some friends to upstate New York and soon found himself starring in the $20,000 horror cheapie "The Curse of the Living Corpse." Small roles in television and films like "Star" and "Stiletto" followed. In 1971, he had the unique opportunity to star opposite both acting Oscar winners when he played Jane Fonda's pimp in "Klute" and Gene Hackman's partner in "The French Connection." As a bonus, for his work in "The French Connection," Roy earned his first Academy Award nomination. After losing the part of Father Karras in "The Exorcist" to Jason Miller, Roy played another tough NYC cop in "The Seven Ups." In early 1974, he was in attendance at a party and overheard director Steven Spielberg talking to a writer about his upcoming project. Roy has stated that when he heard, "...and then the shark jumps on the boat and breaks it" that he mumbled to himself, "glad I'm not working on that film." Of course, after Charlton Heston said no, Scheider was cast as Police Chief Martin Brody in Spielberg's project, "JAWS." The box office champion made Scheider a star, and he followed the film with a great supporting performance as Dustin Hoffman's brother in "Marathon Man." There was a great featurette that played in theatres that highlighted the making of "Marathon Man," and I remember that producer Robert Evans referred to Roy as "the Humphrey Bogart of the 1970s." Like Bogie in "The African Queen," Scheider went into the jungle for William Friedkin's "Sorcerer." He next appeared in Jonathan Demme's murder mystery "Last Embrace." During the production of "JAWS," Roy signed a three film contract with Universal. The first film was "Sorcerer," which was a co-production with Paramount. Next up was the role of Michael in "The Deer Hunter." After many script revisions, Roy decided he did not like the project and quit. Hungry for a sequel to the big shark movie, Universal told Roy that they would forgive him the third picture on his contract if he would do "Jaws 2." He did.

Shortly after filming of "Jaws 2," Roy received a phone call from his "JAWS" co-star Richard Dreyfuss. What were then called creative differences (though later it was revealed that Dreyfuss could not dance to save his life) had caused Dreyfuss to quit the Bob Fosse' musical "All That Jazz." Scheider ran with the news and arranged a meeting with Fosse. Next thing you know, Roy is cast as Fosse's alter ego, Joe Gideon. For his performance in "All That Jazz," Roy earned Oscar nomination number two, this time for Best Actor. He continued working through the early 1980s, appearing in such films as "Still of the Night," "Blue Thunder" and the television drama "Jacobo Timerman: Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number." He also appeared opposite Justin Henry in the film "Tiger Town," which was the first film made exclusively for The Disney Channel. In 1984 he appeared as Dr. Heywood Floyd in Peter Hyamm's "2010." After 1986's "52 Pick Up," Roy began appearing less and less in mainstream films. Movies like "Cohen and Tate," "Listen To Me" and "The Fourth War" came and went quickly in theatres. In 1989, his 27 year marriage to film editor Cynthia Scheider ended. He soon married actress Brenda King. Small roles in films like "The Russia House," "Naked Lunch" and "Romeo is Bleeding" kept him busy but it wasn't until Steven Spielberg offered him the role of Captain Nathan Bridger on the television show "SeaQuest DSV" that he began working steadily again. Since leaving "SeaQuest" in 1995, Roy has worked mostly in television and films that are filmed in NYC or the adjoining areas. His appearances as Cardinal Siqueros in the straight to video series of "Dracula" films keep him busy and allow him plenty of time with his two children with King, Molly and Christian. Recently Roy narrated the JAWS inspired documentary "The Shark Is Still Working"

Well, that's all for now. Have a great week. See ya!