While Robert Shaw and Roy Scheider passed away in 1978 and 2008, respectively, one remaining member of the shark-hunting trio remains: Richard Dreyfuss. Dreyfuss is fondly remembered for his memorable performance as Matt Hooper, the obsessive marine biologist and oceanographer who tags along with Brody and Shaw on the ORCA to hunt down the marauding Great White. Hooper’s intelligence and witty personality can get the better of him at times, but his passion for his work is nevertheless admirable. Outside of a brief mention in “Jaws 2,” Hooper never returned for any of the “Jaws” sequels.
Dreyfuss’ career continued to flourish in the late 1970s, starring in Steven Spielberg’s 1977 sci-fi extravaganza, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” Dreyfuss also took home an Academy Award for his lead role in 1977’s “The Goodbye Girl.” He continued to star in notable movies including “Stand By Me,” “Always,” “James and the Giant Peach,” and “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” the latter of which earned him another best actor Oscar nomination. The 76-year-old actor remains active in the industry to this day with numerous upcoming projects, including the World War II drama “Nate & Al” and another shark-centric thriller, “Into the Deep.”
