'Jaws': Which Actors Are Still Alive as Classic Shark Film Celebrates 51st Anniversary?
The classic shark thriller Jaws celebrates its 51st anniversary on June 20, 2026. Over five decades after its initial release in theaters, director Steven Spielberg's iconic film continues to captivate new generations of horror fans. Which of its original stars are still with us today?
Jaws premiered in June 1975 and is widely known as the original summer blockbuster. Fifty years later, it remains one of the most influential films in cinematic history.
At only 26, Spielberg directed the groundbreaking thriller that forever changed how audiences experience on-screen suspense. Adapted from Peter Benchley's bestselling novel, the film became a monumental box office success and a milestone in film history.
The original cast included Richard Dreyfuss (Matt), Roy Schneider (Brody), Robert Shaw (Quint), Lorraine Gary (Ellen), Carl Gottileb (Ben), Jeffrey Kramer (Lenny), Jeffrey Vorhees (Alex), Jay Mello (Sean), Murray Hamilton (Sean), and Susan Backlinie (Chrissie).
Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Carl Gottlieb, Jeffrey Kramer, Jeffrey Vorhees, and Jay Mello are the only Jaws cast members still alive today reports Slash Film.
The Legacy of the Jaws Franchise
The story of Jaws focuses on a Great White Shark that terrorizes a beach resort town, Amity Island, during the summer. The search for the shark culminates in a tense, thrilling showdown between Brody and the Great White.
The film grossed $250M domestically according to Box Office Mojo. It had a worldwide gross of $447M.
Piggybacking on the success of the original film, Jaws 2 debuted in theaters in 1978. In the second installment, Brody faced another Great White that terrorized his town three years after a deadly series of attacks.
Jaws 3D dropped five years later, in 1983. This film tells the tale of a thirty-five-foot shark who becomes trapped in a SeaWorld theme park, leading Brody's sons to head the rescue efforts when its mother tries to claim her offspring.
Finally, Jaws: The Revenge was released in 1987. The finale of the series features Brody's widow, who believes a vengeful shark is deliberately targeting her family.
Jaws won three Academy Awards: Best Film Editing, Best Original Dramatic Score, and Best Sound. The Library of Congress selected Jaws for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2021.
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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 5:15 AM.