Beloved Actor, 77, Looks Unrecognizable 50 Years After Starring in ’70s Classic Film originally appeared on Parade.
It’s been 50 years since Richard Dreyfuss starred in the classic film Jaws, and fans are still in awe of how much he’s changed over the years.
During a recent visit to a dock on Martha’s Vineyard, 77-year-old Dreyfuss spoke with CBS News about the film’s lasting legacy. In the clip, the legendary actor looked nearly unrecognizable compared to his appearance in the 1975 blockbuster.
Dreyfuss wasn’t sporting his iconic beard and bucket hat from the film, instead, he wore a blue baseball cap and a zip-up jacket. As he strolled along the dock, he reflected on his time on set — and how he initially wanted nothing to do with the movie.
“I turned the film down a couple of times because I was thinking that it was gonna be a b-tch to shoot. And I was not wrong!” he joked. “But it was such an adventure. And if you had to pick one word to describe the shoot, it was waiting.”
At the time of filming, Dreyfuss never imagined the movie would be a hit, much less launch his stardom. “I honestly thought this thing was going to crash and burn,” he told CBS News.
This wasn’t the first time he expressed doubt about the film. Just last year, Dreyfuss admitted he believed it would be a “disaster” at the time.
“I couldn’t imagine how Steven [Spielberg] was going to overcome all the problems that he faced every day. I know I went on at least one talk show where I said this is a total disaster,” he told USA Today in 2024.
“Then I went back on that same show and declared myself the stupidest actor in America.” After seeing the finished film and its massive success, Dreyfuss quickly retracted his earlier criticism. “When I saw the film all put together, I realized I was a jerk,” he said.
Jaws went on to win three Academy Awards and spawned three sequels in 1978, 1983 and 1987.
Although Dreyfuss didn’t appear in any of the follow-ups and later bit his tongue about his initial skepticism, he once describedJaws as “one of the most powerful things that ever happened to me, one of the biggest experiences of my life.”
In the hit thriller, he played marine biologist Matt Hooper, who is called to Amity Island to investigate a series of shark attacks terrorizing the community.
His role was a key part of the film’s success, which, even after five decades, remains one of the greatest movies of the late ’70s—and a lasting reminder not to underestimate the power of Spielberg.
Beloved Actor, 77, Looks Unrecognizable 50 Years After Starring in ’70s Classic Film first appeared on Parade on Jul 10, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
