Trivia

Was predeceased by his daughter, Maximillia Connelly Lord (B. July 6, 1963), who died on August 2, 2006 at age 43 of leukemia.

His favorite character played was choreographer Joe Gideon in All That Jazz (1979).

Underwent a bone marrow transplant to treat multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells. (June 2005)

Served in the United States Air Force for three years and rose to the rank of first lieutenant.

His grandchildren called him "Chiefy" and "Grandpa Big Fish".

He was offered the lead role in The Omen (1976) and reportedly was very interested in taking the role, but had to turn in down due to previous commitments. Consequently, his desire to play that type of role (a self-sacrificing, noble hero) led to his accepting the role of Chief Martin Brody in Jaws (1975).

He was originally cast as Michael Vronsky in The Deer Hunter (1978), as the second movie of a three movie deal with Universal Studios. Because he did not believe that the character would travel around the world to find his friend, he quit the picture. Universal executives were furious, but they agreed to let him out of his Universal contract if he made Jaws 2 (1978), which he did. He later regarded pulling out of The Deer Hunter (1978) as the career decision he most regrets.

Appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: The French Connection (1971), Jaws (1975) and All That Jazz (1979). Of those, The French Connection (1971) is a winner in the category.

His late SeaQuest 2032 (1993) co-star Jonathan Brandis considered him a mentor and one of his biggest acting influences.

His wife, Brenda Seimer, saved the old Art Deco Sag Harbor, New York movie marquee when the owner of the theater was renovating the building, and just tore it down and threw it out. She was threatened with arrest for stealing the sign. Scheider helped organize a community fundraising drive to recreate it, and the theater owner put it back in place.

Remembering Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss said "He was a wonderful guy," recalling his Jaws (1975) co-star as an actor who "does his job and does it as well as he can".

Was an avid reader.

Son, Christian Scheider (born 1990), and daughter, Molly Scheider (born 1995), with wife Brenda Siemer Scheider.

Roy completed all his scenes for Beautiful Blue Eyes (2009) before passing away, but a technical error forced the production to reshoot certain scenes without Roy.

On March 4, 2007, Scheider was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the SunDeis Film Festival at Brandeis University, following a screening of his classic film All That Jazz (1979). It was the sixth time that Scheider had seen the film, and the first time for his young daughter, Molly, who accompanied him.

Despite the fact that they played characters that were enemies in Blue Thunder, both Roy Scheider and Malcolm McDowell became very good friends while working on the John Badham film. As McDowell would state at various science fiction conventions, they enjoyed working together so much that they couldn't leave each other alone. When Scheider passed away, a very saddened McDowell was unable to attend Scheider's funeral due to a film project that he was working on and could not leave at the time, much to his dismay. As a result, he immediately ordered some flowers and sent a letter of condolence to Scheider's family.

As a very young actor, he was an uncredited extra in the dance hall scene from "The United States Steel Hour" (1953), from the episode "A Wind from the South" (1955), starring Julie Harris.

Attended and graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He later received an honorary doctorate from the college.

1947: Lost - Roy Scheider was stopped in two rounds (TKO), when he suffered a nose injury by Myron Greenberg in an amateur boxing match in Orange, New Jersey. Scheider's nose was broken and he was unable to continue (Golden Gloves Tournament: Novice Division).

Was one of the founders of the Hayground School in Bridgehampton, New York, dedicated to creating an innovative, culturally diverse learning environment for local children.

His paternal grandparents, Charles Scheider and Wilhelmina Christine Schraft, were both the children of German immigrants. Roy's mother was of Irish and German descent.

Had two grandchildren, granddaughter Sascha and and grandson Tanner Orion Emile Connelly. Tanner died on February 8, 2017 at age 25.

Was politically active and participated in protests against the Vietnam and Iraq wars and for environmental issues on Long Island. In March 2003, he was among a group of protesters who laid down on a Long Island highway in a symbolic reference to the casualties of war.

He has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: The French Connection (1971), Jaws (1975) and All That Jazz (1979).

Has played the President of the United States three times: Executive Target (1997), The Peacekeeper (1997) and Chain of Command (2000).

An action figure was created based on his character, Captain Nathan Bridger, from SeaQuest 2032 (1993).

1950: Won - Roy Scheider knocked out Myron Greenberg in one round in a New Jersey amateur boxing match.

Was a regular participant in the annual Artists and Writers Charity Softball Game in East Hampton, New York.

Was cited as one of the most promising movie personalities of 1973 in John Willis' 1974 Film Annual "Screen World" book.

Has played two characters with pet dolphins: Heywood Floyd in 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984) and Captain Nathan Bridger on SeaQuest 2032 (1993).

His name was inspiration for Japanese enterprise Toei create television series Space Sheriff Shaider (1984).

The actor believed he became slightly typecast after making "The French Connection.".

His stage work included portraying Juror #8 in the Washington D.C. production of "Twelve Angry Men". His cast-mates included Rene Auberjonois as Juror #5, and Robert Prosky as Juror #3.

Was in talks to appear in the drama film The Verdict (1982).

When he was shown in the "In Memoriam" segment during the telecast of the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2009), his name was spelled incorrectly: Schieder instead of Scheider.

1953 (July 20): Won - Roy Scheider knocked out Nick Welling in two rounds of an amateur boxing match in Cliffside Park, New Jersey.

1950 (February 14): Won - Roy Scheider knocked out Peter Read in 3-rounds in a New Jersey amateur boxing match.

Attended Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey, home of future graduates Elisabeth Shue and Andrew Shue, Zach Braff, Lauryn Hill and Ahmed Best.

Parents are Roy Bernhard and Anna Scheider (née Crosson). Has one younger brother: Glenn Scheider.

1950 (March 17): Won - Roy Scheider knocked out Earl Garrett in the first round of an amateur boxing match in New Jersey. Scheider suffered a nose injury and drops out of the tournament (Golden Gloves).

1948: Won - Roy Scheider knocked out Alfonse D'Amore in 16 seconds of round one in an amateur boxing match in New Jersey (Golden Gloves: Novice Division).

1958: Won - Roy Scheider knocked out Ted LaScalza in one round in an amateur boxing match.

1948: Won - Roy Scheider knocked out Jerry Gould in 33 seconds of round one in an amateur boxing match in New Jersey (Golden Gloves: Novice Division).

1950 (February 17): Won - Roy Scheider knocked out Phil Duncan in one round in an amateur boxing match in New Jersey.

He was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

1948: Won - Roy Scheider knocked out Peter Read in two rounds of an amateur boxing match in New Jersey.

By the middle 1980s, Roy Scheider's career as a leading man was in decline.

While he was unhappy during the making of Jaws 2 (1978) and disliked his time on set many years later he would acknowledge that while not as good as the first film the sequel was still a "competently made movie" in his words.

He and Geoffrey Lewis both played a character named Frank Murphy.