Roy Scheider - Actor Profile

Roy Scheider

Acting
Updated: Apr 10, 2026
50Total Films
9.0 Highest Rated
Born: Nov 10, 1932
Birth Place: Orange, New Jersey, USA

About Roy Scheider

Roy Richard Scheider (/ˈʃaɪdər/; November 10, 1932 – February 10, 2008) was an American actor and amateur boxer who achieved fame with his leading and supporting roles in celebrated films from the 1970s to the mid-1980s. He was nominated for two Academy Awards, one Golden Globe, and one BAFTA. Scheider's best-known roles include Frank Ligourin in Klute (1971), Police Chief Martin Brody in Jaws (1975) and its 1978 sequel, "Cloudy" Russo in The French Connection (1971), "Buddy" in The Seven-Ups (1973), Doc Levy in Marathon Man (1976), Scanlon / Dominguez in Sorcerer (1977), Joe Gideon in All That Jazz (1979), Frank Murphy in Blue Thunder (1983), and Dr. Heywood Floyd in the 2001: A Space Odyssey sequel, 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984). Subsequent credits included Naked Lunch (1991), Romeo Is Bleeding (1993), The Myth of Fingerprints (1997), The Rainmaker (1997), and The Punisher (2004). He portrayed Captain Nathan Bridger on NBC's seaQuest DSV from 1993–1996.

Roy Scheider Movies & Career Overview

The filmography of Roy Scheider reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.

Dominant Genre

A large portion of Roy Scheider's work falls within the Thriller genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.

Success Ratio

Approximately 50% of Roy Scheider's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.

One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains When It Was a Game 2, which stands out as a key performance.

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Best Roy Scheider Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Roy Scheider's career based on audience ratings.

Full Filmography

Every movie Roy Scheider has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2025 Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story Self Hit Similar →
2009 Iron Cross Joseph Average Similar →
2009 The Shark Is Still Working Narrator / Self Hit Similar →
2008 Chicago 10 Judge Julius Hoffman (voice) Average Similar →
2007 The Poet Rabbi Flop Similar →
2007 If I Didn't Care Linus Average Similar →
2004 Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures Self Hit Similar →
2004 The Punisher Frank Castle, Sr. Average Similar →
2003 Dracula II: Ascension Cardinal Siqueros Average Similar →
2003 A Decade Under the Influence Self Super Hit Similar →
2002 Regulus: The First Nuclear Missile Submarines Narrator Average Similar →
2001 Making the Connection: Untold Stories of The French Connection Self Hit Similar →
2001 Going the Distance: Remembering 'Marathon Man' Self Hit Similar →
2001 The Making of Jaws 2 Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
2000 The Poughkeepsie Shuffle: Tracing 'The French Connection' Self Super Hit Similar →
1999 RKO 281 George Schaefer Average Similar →
1999 Silver Wolf John Rockwell Average Similar →
1998 Evasive Action Enzo Marcelli Average Similar →
1997 The Rainmaker Wilfred Keeley Hit Similar →
1997 Plato's Run Senarkian Average Similar →
1995 The Making of 'Jaws' Self Hit Similar →
1993 Romeo Is Bleeding Don Falcone Average Similar →
1992 When It Was a Game 2 Passage Narrator (voice) Super Hit Similar →
1991 Naked Lunch Dr. Benway Hit Similar →
1990 The Russia House Russell Average Similar →
1990 Somebody Has to Shoot the Picture Paul Marish Hit Similar →
1989 Cohen and Tate Cohen Hit Similar →
1986 52 Pick-Up Harry Mitchell Average Similar →
1986 Follies: In Concert Narrator Hit Similar →
1984 2010 Dr. Heywood Floyd Hit Similar →
1984 Tiger Town Billy Young Hit Similar →
1983 Blue Thunder Murphy Average Similar →
1982 Still of the Night Doctor Sam Rice Average Similar →
1979 All That Jazz Joe Gideon Super Hit Similar →
1979 Last Embrace Harry Hannan Flop Similar →
1978 Jaws 2 Police Chief Martin Brody Average Similar →
1977 Sorcerer Scanlon / "Dominguez" Hit Similar →
1976 Marathon Man Henry 'Doc' Levy Hit Similar →
1975 Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York Sam Stoneman Flop Similar →
1975 Jaws Brody Super Hit Similar →
1973 The Seven-Ups Buddy - Seven-Up Average Similar →
1972 The Outside Man Lenny Average Similar →
1972 The Assassination Michael Howard Hit Similar →
1971 The French Connection Buddy Russo Super Hit Similar →
1971 Klute Frank Ligourin Hit Similar →
1970 Puzzle of a Downfall Child Mark Average Similar →
1970 Loving Skip Average Similar →
1968 Paper Lion Man (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1964 The Curse of the Living Corpse Philip Sinclair Average Similar →
1955 A Wind from the South Dancer (uncredited) Average Similar →

Roy Scheider - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Roy Scheider?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Roy Scheider is "When It Was a Game 2" with a rating of 9.0/10.

How many movies has Roy Scheider acted in?

Roy Scheider has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Roy Scheider?

Other notable films include "The Poughkeepsie Shuffle: Tracing 'The French Connection'", "A Decade Under the Influence", and "Jaws".

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