Roy Scheider | |
|---|---|
 Scheider in 2007 | |
| Born | Roy Richard Scheider (1932-11-10)November 10, 1932 Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | February 10, 2008(2008-02-10) (aged 75) Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Other names |
|
| Education | |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1952–2008 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3, includingChristian Scheider[a] |
Roy Richard Scheider (/ˈʃaɪdər/; November 10, 1932 – February 10, 2008) was an American actor and amateur boxer who achieved fame with his leading and supporting roles in celebrated films from the 1970s to the mid-1980s. He was nominated for twoAcademy Awards, oneGolden Globe, and oneBAFTA.[1]
Scheider's best-known roles include Frank Ligourin inKlute (1971), Police Chief Martin Brody inJaws (1975) and its1978 sequel, "Cloudy" Russo inThe French Connection (1971), "Buddy" inThe Seven-Ups (1973), Doc Levy inMarathon Man (1976), Scanlon / Dominguez inSorcerer (1977), Joe Gideon inAll That Jazz (1979), Frank Murphy inBlue Thunder (1983), and Dr. Heywood Floyd in the2001: A Space Odyssey sequel,2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984). Subsequent credits includedNaked Lunch (1991),Romeo Is Bleeding (1993),The Myth of Fingerprints (1997),The Rainmaker (1997), andThe Punisher (2004). He portrayedCaptain Nathan Bridger onNBC'sseaQuest DSV from 1993–1996.
Scheider was born inOrange, New Jersey,[2] the son of Anna (née Crosson; 1906–1984) and auto mechanic Roy Bernhard Scheider (1903–1976). Scheider's mother was of Irish descent with anIrish Catholic background. His father was aProtestantGerman American.[3][4] As a child, Scheider was an athlete, participating in organized baseball andboxing competitions, for which he was classed as awelterweight, weighing in at 140 lb (63.5 kg).
Scheider competed in the Diamond Gloves Boxing Tournament inElizabeth, New Jersey. He attendedColumbia High School inMaplewood, New Jersey, graduating in 1950, and was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 1985. He traded his boxing gloves for the stage, studying drama at bothRutgers University andFranklin and Marshall College, where he was a member ofPhi Kappa Psi fraternity.[5][4]
Between 1946 and 1949, Scheider boxed as an amateur in New Jersey.[6] Scheider said in a television interview in the 1980s that he took up boxing to lose weight. He said he had no desire to fight, but that his trainer, Georgie Ward, encouraged him to compete.[7] In his second bout, at the 1946 Diamond Gloves Tournament (Golden Gloves), Scheider suffered a broken nose and lost bytechnical knockout in two rounds to Myron Greenberg. He went on to post an 11–1 (six knockouts) record,[6] reversing his defeat by Greenberg in the process.[6]
| Amateur boxing record: Roy Scheider (unverified)[6] | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Opponent | Method | Date | Round | Time | Event | Location | Notes |
| Win |  Earl Garrett | KO | March 17, 1949 | 1 | Elizabeth, New Jersey | |||
| Win | Ted LaScalza | KO | March 12, 1949 | 1 | Jersey City, New Jersey | |||
| Win | Peter Read | KO | February 17, 1949 | 1 | Elizabeth, New Jersey | Scheider suffers nose injury; drops out of tournament. | ||
| Win | Nick Welling | KO | July 20, 1948 | 1 | Elizabeth, New Jersey | |||
| Win | Jerry Gould | KO | July 2, 1948 | 1 | Orange, New Jersey | |||
| Win | Alfonse D'Amore | KO | March 2, 1948 | 1 | Orange, New Jersey | |||
| Win | Peter Read | TKO | February 21, 1948 | 2 | Elizabeth, New Jersey | |||
| Win | Phillip Duncan | KO | February 19, 1948 | 1 | Elizabeth, New Jersey | |||
| Win | Stewart Murphy | KO | April 1, 1947 | 1 | 0:16 | Golden Gloves | New Jersey | |
| Win | Myron Greenberg | KO | January 10, 1947 | 1 | Golden Gloves | New Jersey | ||
| Loss | Myron Greenberg | TKO | January 11, 1946 | 2 | Golden Gloves | New Jersey | Scheider's nose was broken. | |
| Win | Frank Brayden | KO | January 9, 1946 | 2 | Golden Gloves | New Jersey |
From 1955 to 1958, Scheider served in theUnited States Air Force as afirst lieutenant inair operations. He then became acaptain in theAir Force Reserve Command until 1964.[8]
In 1964, Scheider's first film role was in the horror filmThe Curse of the Living Corpse. On television, he played running roles on two CBS soap operas,Love of Life andThe Secret Storm, and played character roles in episodes ofCamera Three,N.Y.P.D., andCoronet Blue. He was in the TV movieLamp at Midnight (1966). In 1968, Scheider appeared with theNew York Shakespeare Festival, and won anObie Award for Distinguished Performance[9] in Hugh Leonard's play, which was adapted from the works ofJames Joyce,Stephen D, appearing in it 68 times at theEast 74th Street Theater.[10] He appeared in the filmsStiletto (1969),Loving (1970), andPuzzle of a Downfall Child (1970), and on television inWhere the Heart Is andCannon.
In 1971, he appeared in two highly popular films,Klute, directed byAlan Pakula, andThe French Connection, directed byWilliam Friedkin. The latter, in which he played a fictionalized version of New York City detectiveSonny Grosso, gained him anOscar nomination forBest Supporting Actor.[2] Scheider became much in demand. He went to Europe to have key supporting roles inThe French Conspiracy (1972) andThe Outside Man (1972).
In 1973, Scheider's first starring role came inThe Seven-Ups, a quasi follow-up toThe French Connection, in which Scheider's character is once again based on Grosso. He was second-billed inSheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York (1975). Scheider portrayed Chief Martin Brody in the Hollywood blockbusterJaws (1975), which also starredRobert Shaw andRichard Dreyfuss.[2] Scheider's ad-libbed line,[11] "You're gonna need a bigger boat," was voted 35th on theAmerican Film Institute'slist of best movie quotes. He appeared as secret agent Doc Levy inMarathon Man (1976), withDustin Hoffman andLaurence Olivier.[12]
Scheider was initially set to appear in the lead role inMichael Cimino's never-filmed romantic thrillerPerfect Strangers, but the film was canceled due to "political machinations" at Paramount.[7] Scheider was later offered the role portrayed byRobert De Niro in Cimino'sThe Deer Hunter (1978), which was the second film of a three-picture deal withUniversal Studios.[2] He reunited withFrench Connection director William Friedkin inSorcerer (1977), the second adaptation of the 1950 French novelThe Wages of Fear.[2] Although the film didn't do well at the box office, it has since acquired a large cult following.
Still under contract after dropping out two weeks beforeThe Deer Hunter started filming, Universal offered him the option of reprising his role as Martin Brody for aJaws sequel, and would consider his contractual obligations fulfilled if he accepted. Roy "The Shark Slayer" Scheider accepted andJaws 2 was released in 1978. It was a huge hit.[2] Scheider starred inLast Embrace (1979), a thriller directed byJonathan Demme. He received his second Academy Award nomination, this time asBest Actor inAll That Jazz (1979), in which he played a fictionalized version of the film's director and co-writer Bob Fosse.[2] Some of the film's production was portrayed in theFX miniseriesFosse/Verdon, in which Scheider was played byLin Manuel-Miranda.
He made a thriller withMeryl Streep forRobert Benton,Still of the Night (1982), which was a box-office disappointment. The following year, however, his box office performance improved withBlue Thunder (1983),[2] aJohn Badham film about a prototypeattack helicopter that provided security over the city of Los Angeles during the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. He made two TV movies,Jacobo Timerman: Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number (1983) andTiger Town (1984). This was followed by a role as Dr. Heywood Floyd inPeter Hyams'2010, a 1984 sequel toStanley Kubrick's 1968 science-fiction classic2001: A Space Odyssey, in whichWilliam Sylvester originated the role of Floyd.[13] He provided narration forMishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985).
Scheider was inThe Men's Club (1986),52 Pick-Up (1986) forJohn Frankenheimer,Cohen and Tate (1988),Listen to Me (1989),Night Game (1989),The Fourth War (1990) again for Frankenheimer,Somebody Has to Shoot the Picture (1990), andThe Russia House (1990). One of his later parts was that of Dr. Benway in the long-in-production 1991 film adaptation ofWilliam S. Burroughs' novelNaked Lunch.[2] Scheider played a mob boss who meets a horrific fate in theGary Oldman crime filmRomeo Is Bleeding (1994)[2] and a chief executive of a corrupt insurance company cross-examined byMatt Damon's character in 1997'sJohn Grisham's The Rainmaker, directed byFrancis Ford Coppola.
Scheider appeared among an ensemble cast inThe Myth of Fingerprints (1997), for which he was nominated for anIndependent Spirit Award. He appeared as the crusty father of hero Frank Castle inThe Punisher (2004), and in 2007, starred inThe Poet andIf I Didn't Care. When Scheider died in February 2008, he had two movies upcoming:Dark Honeymoon, which had been completed, and the thrillerIron Cross. InIron Cross, Scheider plays the leading role of Joseph, a holocaust survivor with a propensity for justice, which was inspired by director Joshua Newton's late father Bruno Newton.Iron Cross was ultimately released in 2011.
Scheider was lead star in theSteven Spielberg-produced television seriesseaQuest DSV as Captain Nathan Bridger. During the second season, Scheider voiced disdain for the direction in which the series was heading. His comments were highly publicized, and the media criticized him for panning his own show. NBC made additional casting and writing changes in the third season, and Scheider decided to leave the show. His contract required that he make several guest appearances that season.
Scheider hosted an episode ofSaturday Night Live in the 10th (1984–1985) season and appeared on theFamily Guy episode "Bill & Peter's Bogus Journey", voicing himself as the host of a toilet-training video, portions of which were censored on FOX and syndicated broadcasts. He provided voiceover on theFamily Guy episode "Three Kings", which was recorded in September 2007 and aired in May 2009, a year and three months after his death in February 2008, which also featured hisJaws co-star Richard Dreyfuss.
Scheider guest-starred in theLaw & Order: Criminal Intent episode "Endgame" asserial killer Mark Ford Brady, who is identified at the episode's end as being the biological father of Detective Goren, played byVincent D'Onofrio. He narrated and was associate producer of the 2006Jaws documentaryThe Shark is Still Working.[14] In 2007, Scheider received one of two annual Lifetime Achievement Awards at the SunDeis Film Festival inWaltham, Massachusetts.[citation needed] After Scheider's death, a biography entitledRoy Scheider: A Life was released as a tribute, compiling reviews, essays, and narration on his life and career.[citation needed]
Scheider marriedCynthia Bebout on November 8, 1962.[15] The couple had one daughter, Maximillia (1963–2006), before divorcing in 1986.[16] On February 11, 1989, he married actress Brenda Siemer, with whom he had a son,Christian Scheider, and adopted a daughter, Molly.[17] They remained married until his death.[2]
In 2004, Scheider was diagnosed withmultiple myeloma. In June 2005, he received abone marrow transplant to treat the cancer.[18] He died of astaph infection after a nearly 3 yearbattle with the cancer on February 10, 2008, inLittle Rock, Arkansas, at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center. He was 75 years old.[19]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | The Curse of the Living Corpse | Philip Sinclair | |
| 1968 | Paper Lion | Central Park Flag Football Player | uncredited |
| 1969 | Stiletto | Bennett | |
| 1970 | Loving | Skip | |
| Puzzle of a Downfall Child | Mark | ||
| 1971 | Klute | Frank Ligourin | |
| The French Connection | NYPD Detective Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo | ||
| 1972 | The French Conspiracy | Michael Howard | |
| The Outside Man | Lenny | ||
| 1973 | The Seven-Ups | Buddy, Seven-Up | |
| 1975 | Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York | Sam Stoneman | |
| Jaws | Police Chief Martin Brody | ||
| 1976 | Marathon Man | Agent Henry 'Doc' Levy | |
| 1977 | Sorcerer | Scanlon / Dominguez | |
| 1978 | Jaws 2 | Police Chief Martin Brody | |
| 1979 | Last Embrace | Harry Hannan | |
| All That Jazz | Joe Gideon | ||
| 1982 | Still of the Night | Sam Rice | |
| 1983 | Blue Thunder | LAPD Officer Frank Murphy | |
| 1984 | 2010 | Dr. Heywood Floyd | |
| 1985 | Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters | Narrator (voice) | |
| 1986 | The Men's Club | Cavanaugh | |
| 52 Pick-Up | Harry Mitchell | ||
| 1987 | Jaws: The Revenge | Police Chief Martin Brody | Archive Footage Uncredited |
| 1989 | Cohen and Tate | Cohen | |
| Listen to Me | Charlie Nichols | ||
| Night Game | Mike Seaver | ||
| 1990 | The Fourth War | Colonel Jack Knowles | |
| The Russia House | Russell | ||
| 1991 | Naked Lunch | Dr. Benway | |
| 1993 | Romeo Is Bleeding | Don Falcone | |
| 1997 | The Myth of Fingerprints | Hal | |
| 1997 | Plato's Run | Senarkian | |
| Executive Target | President Carlson | ||
| The Rage | John Taggart | ||
| The Peacekeeper | President Bob Baker | ||
| The Rainmaker | Wilfred Keeley | ||
| The Definite Maybe | Eddie Jacobsen | a.k.a.No Money Down | |
| 1998 | Evasive Action | Enzo Marcelli | |
| Better Living | Tom | ||
| The White Raven | Tom Heath | ||
| 2000 | Chain of Command | President Jack Cahill | |
| Falling Through | Earl | ||
| The Doorway | Professor Lamont | ||
| Daybreak | Stan Marshall | ||
| 2001 | Time Lapse | Agent La Nova | |
| 2002 | The Good War | Colonel Gartner | a.k.a.Texas '46 |
| Angels Don't Sleep Here | Mayor Harry Porter | a.k.a.Blakflash 2 | |
| 2003 | Citizen Verdict | Governor 'Bull' Tyler | |
| Dracula II: Ascension | Cardinal Siqueros | ||
| Red Serpent | Hassan | ||
| 2004 | The Punisher | Frank Castle Sr. | |
| 2005 | Dracula III: Legacy | Cardinal Siqueros | |
| Love Thy Neighbor | Fred | ||
| 2006 | Last Chance | Cumberland | short film |
| 2007 | Chicago 10 | Judge Julius Hoffman (voice) | Documentary |
| The Poet | Rabbi | a.k.a.Hearts of War | |
| If I Didn't Care | Linus Boyer | a.k.a.Blue Blood | |
| The Shark Is Still Working | Narrator (voice) | Documentary | |
| 2008 | Dark Honeymoon | Sam | direct-to-video |
| 2009 | Iron Cross | Joseph | Released posthumously; final acting role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | The United States Steel Hour | Dancer | Episode: A Wind from the South |
| 1962 | The Edge of Night | Kenny | |
| 1964 | Camera Three | Face | Episode: The Alchemist |
| 1965–1966 | Love of Life | Jonas Falk | Various Episodes |
| 1966 | Lamp at Midnight | Francesco Barberini | Television Movie |
| 1967 | The Secret Storm | Bob Hill #1 | |
| Coronet Blue | Apartment Manager | Episode: A Charade for Murder | |
| 1968 | N.Y.P.D. | Paul Jason | Episode: Cry Brute |
| 1969 | This Town Will Never Be the Same | Performer | Television Movie |
| 1971 | Cannon | Dan Bowen | Episode: No Pockets in a Shroud |
| 1972 | Assignment: Munich | Jake Webster | Television Movie |
| 1983 | Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number | Jacob Timerman | Television Movie |
| Tiger Town | Billy Young | Television Movie | |
| 1985 | Saturday Night Live | Host | Episode: Roy Scheider |
| 1990 | Somebody Has to Shoot the Picture | Paul Marish | Television Movie |
| 1993 | Wild Justice | Peter Stride | Television Movie |
| 1993–1995 | seaQuest DSV | Captain Nathan Bridger | 47 episodes |
| 1998 | Money Play$ | Johnny Tobin | Television Movie |
| 1999 | Silver Wolf | John Rockwell | Television Movie |
| The Seventh Scroll | Grant Schiller | Mini-Series | |
| RKO 281 | George J. Schaefer | HBO Movie | |
| 2001 | Diamond Hunters | Jacob Van der Byl | Television movie |
| 2002 | King of Texas | Henry Westover | Television movie |
| Third Watch | Fyodor Chevchenko | 6 episodes | |
| 2005 | Carrier: Arsenal of the Sea | Narrator (voice) | TV documentary |
| 2007 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Mark Ford Brady | Episode: Endgame |
| 2007–2009 | Family Guy | Himself (voice) | 2 episodes |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The French Connection | Nominated | [20] |
| 1979 | Best Actor | All That Jazz | Nominated | ||
| 1979 | Golden Globes | Best Actor – Film Musical of Comedy | Nominated | ||
| 1980 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
| 1980 | National Society of Film Critics | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
| 1997 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Myth of Fingerprints | Nominated |
