Jaws Stars' Bitter-Sweet Journeys: 50 Years On, Their Lives Unveiled - Shark's Current Whereabouts Disclosed
Diving into the ocean still gives you the heebie-jeebies? You might be reliving the terrifying impact of the 1975 blockbuster Jaws. This chilling masterpiece, masterminded by Steven Spielberg, remains a Hollywood icon, raking in the most money back then and setting the stage for a new generation of directors.
This nerve-wracking movie turned its leads into stars, earning three Oscars and a staggering $499 million worldwide. So, here's what's happened to the original Jaws cast since, who's no longer with us, and where a certain steel shark now resides...
Susan Backlinie aka Chrissie Watkins
Chrissie Watkins, played by Susan Backlinie, met her gruesome on-screen death in the opening scene. A stuntwoman-turned-actress, she took the role due to her swimming skills and willingness to bare all. She continued acting and stunts for a short while, notably in Spielberg's film 1941, satirizing her grisly demise. She wed Harvey Swindall in 1996, welcomed a daughter, and transformed into a computer accountant. Tragically, Susan passed away in 2024 at the age of 77 due to a heart attack.
Roy Scheider aka Chief Martin Brody
An accomplished actor prior to Jaws, Roy Scheider's career continued to soar for decades thanks to movies like Marathon Man (1976), Sorcerer (1977), and All That Jazz (1979, for which he earned his second Oscar nomination). After his divorce from Cynthia Bebout in 1986, he tied the knot with actress Brenda Siemer in 1989, and together they had two children, including a son named Christopher, now a writer, filmmaker, and actor. Roy lost his battle with cancer in 2008 at the age of 75.
Robert Shaw aka Quint
Robert Shaw already had an Oscar nomination under his belt when Jaws came along. The film, as well as his novel The Man in the Glass Booth, made him a star in 1975. Shaw also starred in Robert and Marian and The Deep soon after. After his wife Mary Ure's death in 1975, he married Virginia Jansen in 1976, welcoming a son with her and adopting her son from a previous relationship. Tragically, his success was short-lived, as he died from a heart attack in 1978 at the age of 51, with his final project being 1979's Avalanche Express.
Richard Dreyfuss aka Matt Hooper
Three years after Jaws, Richard Dreyfuss, now 77, won an Academy Award for Best Actor for 1977's The Goodbye Girl. Since then, he's earned critical acclaim for roles in movies like Mr. Holland's Opus (1995), Stand By Me (1986), Nuts (1987), Always (1989), Postcards from the Edge (1990), What About Bob? (1991) and W. (2008). His latest role was in the dismal 2025 shark disaster film Into the Deep.
Richard has been married three times and has three children. However, he has also stirred up controversy in recent years due to long-standing feuds on set with Robert Shaw and Bill Murray. Last year, he came under fire for a reportedly "transphobic, misogynistic, and homophobic" outburst at a Jaws screening event.
Lorraine Gary aka Ellen Brody
Following Jaws, Lorraine Gary, now 87, focused largely on the franchise, appearing in Spielberg's 1979 film 1941 and reprising her role in the panned final sequel Jaws: The Revenge in 1987. That was her last film role. She shifted to behind-the-scenes work, owning New Hope Productions. Lorraine has been active in the human rights space, specifically women's rights, serving on the Human Rights Watch Women's Rights Advisory Committee. Until his 2019 death, she was married to Sidney Sheinberg, an entertainment industry exec. They welcomed sons Jonathan and William, both now film producers.
The Shark itself - Bruce
The mechanical sharks used in Jaws filming were originally planned to be live great whites, but that idea was swiftly abandoned for three full-size pneumatically-powered prop sharks named "Bruce." While the other two Bruces are lost to time, the third one has been restored to its former glory and now greets visitors at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.
Celebrities associated with the pop-culture phenomenon of movies-and-tv, such as Susan Backlinie, Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, and the iconic shark named Bruce from the 1975 blockbuster Jaws, have had diverse and notable careers in entertainment since the release of the film. For instance, Susan Backlinie and Roy Scheider continued acting for a brief period before retiring from the limelight due to personal reasons and sadly passing away. On the other hand, Richard Dreyfuss has shown an impressive longevity in his career, earning critical acclaim in various movies, though facing controversy over some of his actions and statements. Meanwhile, Lorraine Gary shifted her focus to behind-the-scenes work and activism, while Bruce the shark prop is now displayed as a Hollywood icon in the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.
