Roy Scheider

Roy Scheider has died. Close to but never quite on the A list, he still did some fine work and appeared in a fair number of major films.

He started acting in the 1960s, but really got noticed in 1971 when he did memorable supporting work in both Klute and The French Connection (Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor). In 1975 he starred in what's probably his best film, Jaws. He didn't have a flashy part like co-stars Richard Dreyfuss or Robert Shaw, but as the steady though overwhelmed Police Chief Martin Brody, he anchored the film. He also got to speak the immortal line "You're gonna need a bigger boat."

Jaws became the biggest hit of all time and Scheider could choose his roles. Unfortunately, he chose to appear in French Connection director William Friedkin's Sorcerer (1977), a remake of The Wages Of Fear that was an expensive mess. But he rebounded with his role as director Bob Fosse's stand-in in All That Jazz (1979). It was odd casting since Scheider, who could neither sing nor dance, played a song and dance man. And in the few moments near the end when he tries a little of both, he demonstrates his lack of talent. Still, as Broadway director Joe Gideon, whose whole life is "showtime," Scheider was compelling, and he deservedly got a Best Actor nomination.

His career never again reached the same heights. In the 80s, he was the lead in a lot of minor, not especially successful films such as Still Of The Night (1982), Blue Thunder (1983), 2010 (1984) and 52 Pick-Up (1986) (actually I'm sort of fond of that last one).

By the 90s, he was more a supporting actor, appearing in a series of mostly forgettable films. But the great thing about being a movie star is your lesser work drops away, and your best work will always be around.