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Actor Roy Scheider died today at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hospital in Little Rock where he had been undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma.
Scheider's career began in the late 1950s but he came to widespread public attention in the 1970s, highlights include: Klute (with Jane Fonda in 1971) quickly followed by the incredible French Connection (1971), Jaws (1975), Marathon Man (1976), and All That Jazz (1979). Any one of those films could qualify as a "1970s classic" and are examples of Roy Scheider at his best. Sure Scheider did plenty of work in the 80s and 90s (Blue Thunder anyone? How about culties like Naked Lunch and Romeo Is Bleeding?) but the stars were aligned during this obvious golden period.
He became an icon as Chief Brody in 1975's Jaws and for better or worse, that's what most movie fans will remember him for. From all the enjoyment we've received from his great movies, he definitely deserves a bigger boat, thanks Roy, we'll miss you.
