February 10, 2008–Roy Scheider, who received a Supporting Actor Oscar nominated for “The French Connection” and Best oscar nod for “All That Jazz,” but best known for his role as the fearless police chief in “Jaws,” died Sunday at 75.
Scheider died Sunday at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hospital in Little Rock a hospital spokesman said. The hospital did not release his cause of death, but he had been diagnosed with myeloma in 2004 and subsequently underwent a bone marrow transplant.
Born in Orange, N.J., he competed in baseball and boxing before turning to theater in college, where he studied drama at Rutgers and Franklin and Marshall. After a stint in the military, he went onstage in New York, appearing with the New York Shakespeare Festival and winning an Obie for the play “Stephen D.”
After appearing on soap “The Edge of Night,” he launched his film career with “The Curse of the Living Corpse.” His material started to improve with “Star!,” “Paper Lion,” “Stiletto” and “Puzzle of a Downfall Child,” although he continued to guest on soaps such as “Love of Life” and “Secret Storm.”
His career took a major leap forward when he co-starred with Jane Fonda in “Klute” and then alongside Gene Hackman in “The French Connection,” netting his first Oscar nom for the role. He played a cop again in actioner “The Seven-Ups.”
Many viewers identify Scheider with his role as police chief Martin Brody in Steven Spielberg's 1975 “Jaws.” He reprised the role in “Jaws 2” after appearing in “Marathon Man” and “Sorcerer.”
Scheider's career hit another high point with Bob Fosse's 1979 “All That Jazz,” in which he was Oscar-nommed for his role as the womanizing choreographer Joe Gideon.
From then on he was a durable thesp often called upon to play U.S. presidents or military officers, appearing in films including “Blue Thunder,” “2010,” “52 Pick-Up,” and “The Russia House.” He had a recurring role on “SeaQuest DSV” and appeared on TV shows including “Third Watch” and “Law and Order: Criminal Intent.”
He also appeared in “The Peacekeeper,” “Red Serpent,” “The Punisher” and “The Rainmaker.” In his last role, he played a policeman in the film “Iron Cross.”
Scheider is survived by his wife Brenda and two daughters and a son.
