• Richard Dreyfuss is an Academy Award-winning actor and social activist. Dreyfuss is best known for his roles in American Graffiti, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Mr. Holland's Opus.

  Dreyfuss portrays Vice President Dick Cheney in Oliver Stone's biopic W, which was released prior to the 2008 presidential election.The Hollywood Reporter: Richard Dreyfuss Heads to the While House (May 22, 2008)

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: October 29, 1947
  2. Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
  3. Moved to Los Angeles with his family when he was 9-years-oldBBC News: Close Encounter with Richard Dreyfuss (May 20, 1999)
  4. Has three children with first wife, Jeramie Rain; Emily, Benjamin and Harry SpencerEOnline.com Richard Dreyfuss Profile
  5. Spouse: Svetlana Erokhin (third wife)
  6. Won the Best Actor Oscar for The Goodbye Girl at the age of 29Biography.com: Richard Dreyfuss
  7. 1982: Treated for drug addiction after a car accident and arrest for cocaine possessionTime.com: And Now, Hollywood Babble On (June 24, 2001)
  8. 1991: Co-founded LA Works, nonprofit public action and volunteer center
  9. 2004: Senior Advisory Fellow at St. Antony's College at Oxford University

• Notable Roles

  1. 1973: Curt Henderson in American Graffiti
  2. 1975: Matt Hooper in Jaws
  3. 1977: Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind
  4. 1977: Elliot Garfield in The Goodbye Girl
  5. 1986: The Writer in Stand By Me
  6. 1995: Glenn Holland in Mr. Holland's Opus
  7. 1996: Centipede (voice) in James and the Giant Peach
  8. 2008: Dick Cheney in W.

• Honors and Awards

  1. 1977: Oscar for The Goodbye Girl
  2. 1977: BAFTA for The Goodbye Girl
  3. 1977: LA Film Critics Association Award for The Goodbye Girl
  4. 1978: Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Man of the Year
  5. 2000: Hollywood Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award

• Richard Dreyfuss Quotes

  "I don't know what its like for most actors, but really clearly for myself acting has always been the fulfillment of personal fantasies. It isn't just art, it's about being a person I've always wanted to be, or being in a situation, or being a hero."Brainy Quotes: Richard Dreyfuss Quotes

  "Often a director can confuse being your director with being your boss and hold you in contempt. That is not great. Do I make specific requests when I'm shooting a movie? Of course! A bigger trailer than everybody, thank you! I also ask for iced coffee."The Observer: Richard Dreyfuss Interview(October 17, 2004)

  "We never forgive in other people what we casually forgive in ourselves. We always forgive in others what we never forgive in ourselves."The Observer: Richard Dreyfuss Interview(October 17, 2004)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Jaws | Stephen Spielberg | University of Oxford | Close Encounters of the Third Kind | Bette Midler | Hasty Pudding Awards | Oliver Stone | American Graffiti | George Lucas | Roy Scheider | Mr. Holland's Opus | Goodbye Girl | Dick Cheney | Leaves of Grass | Scott Glenn | My Life in Ruins

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