Terrific actor, nominated twice for Oscars, once in a supporting role as Popeye Doyle's partner in the French Connection and in a leading role, playing Gideon, really Bob Fosse in All That Jazz. He also was in one of my favorite sleeper action adventure films Sorcerer.
RIP I was 5 years old when I asked my parents to take me to see Jaws. Bless them, as they did...opening week. I think I spent my head in my seat for most of the movie. Still a great memory. Loved him in quite a few things, including the French Connection and even those B movies, like Blue Thunder, 52 Pick Up and bit parts like in Naked Lunch!
Speaking of bit parts, you should check him out wearing the ugliest sweater in history in The Rainmaker. Seriously, it's hideous. (and, the line is "You're gonna need a bigger boat...").
as a child, seeing him set Blue Thunder on the railroad tracks in front of a train was nearly unforgivable... I cried... Roy, I would've taken that chopper... you could've given that to me!
I met him outside the gramercy park hotel a long time ago. I found him not to be too friendly a guy. So much so that I told him "the shark should have ate you".