Roy Richard Scheider (November 10, 1932 - February 10, 2008) was an American actor of German and Irish descent who built his reputation through a string of defining roles in the landmark films of the 1970s. He earned two Oscar nominations - for Best Supporting Actor in The French Connection (1971) and Best Actor in All That Jazz (1979), where he played a fictionalized version of director Bob Fosse. His portrayal of Police Chief Martin Brody in Spielberg's Jaws (1975) made him a household name and helped establish the summer blockbuster as a Hollywood institution. Before acting, he served in the US Air Force and boxed as an amateur welterweight, a career that left him with his distinctively broken nose.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Jaws, the Little Theatre on the Bay in North Bend recalled Scheider's years spent on its stage during military service in 1955-1958.
Roy Scheider died on February 10, 2008 in Little Rock, Arkansas from complications caused by a staphylococcal infection after years of battling multiple myeloma.
Scheider received a lifetime achievement award at the SunDeis Film Festival in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Scheider participated as an associate producer and moderator on the documentary The Shark is Still Working, dedicated to the history of Jaws.
In 2004 he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma; in June 2005 he underwent a bone marrow transplant.
