Scheider was an actor who effortlessly portrayed the sometimes grouchy everyman all of us could identify with. To be sure they were often heroic men but the vast majority of his performances were all guys who either reminded us of someone or given the right circumstances, could’ve been us.
He projected a gruff likeability. Chief Brody in “Jaws” was frustrated by his role as a glorified civil servant, but when a real crisis threatens those he protects he will stop at nothing to do the right thing, and his battle with the bureaucrats is equally as engaging (if not as heart stopping) as his battle with the shark.
On that boat with Quint (Shaw) and Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) Brody represents our point of view. Bordered by two “experts” who despise each other he must keep the peace to ensure the success of their mission. In the end it falls to him anyway and as the last man standing he must use his wits to defeat the shark when his more knowledgeable compatriots fail. When he kills the shark (intoning the film’s second most famous line) he strikes a blow for all of us who dream of that one heroic moment when we prevail against all odds.
I was immediately drawn to Roy’s effortless acting style. He had a way with humorous dialogue. His deadpan delivery and sarcastic wit always made me laugh. His characters often bucked the system and if they had to defy authority to do what was right they did, as was the case in “Blue Thunder,” “2010,” “The French Connection,” or even the sleazy trash-fest “52 Pick-Up” (a Schedier guilty pleasure if there ever was one). I can imagine he was cast in these roles because few actors could pull off heroism without seeming pretentious or phony or be compelling without sounding shrill or lofty.
His career slid badly in the mid-1980s and never recovered. He was a bankable leading man until that time and I’ve never heard a satisfactory answer as to why he only found work in B-grade thrillers or small character parts from then on. He deserved much better than that. Whenever he was given a meaty character role the old Roy shone through. As a serial killer facing execution in a taut episode of “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” last year he schooled star Vincent D’Onofrio (no slouch himself) during some grueling interrogation scenes.
I came of age when Roy peaked and his films number among some of my all-time favorites, including “Jaws” (obviously), “The French Connection,” “Blue Thunder,” and “2010.” About six years ago I started collecting the autographs of my favorite actors and Roy was among the first I sought. I sent him a “Jaws” DVD cover and he sent it back signed along with a nicely-inscribed headshot. Getting a response like that from one of my idols was something I’ll always treasure.
By all accounts Scheider was a gregarious man who enjoyed discussing his career. He recently helped shepherd a new documentary about “Jaws,” entitled “The Shark is Still Working,” that is obviously a labor of love. He not only consented to an interview but agreed to narrate it and encouraged others to participate.
He leaves behind a body of work that speaks for itself. His participation in the films I’ve mentioned gave them a credibility they might not otherwise have enjoyed. His characters viewed life without complication. They sought to do what was right and had little stomach for the bureaucratic mentality. Roy’s gift as an actor was to put the audience in the middle of the action, to act as their surrogate no matter how outrageous the experience. I’ll miss him.
www.sharkisstillworking.com
