Richard Dreyfuss has been forced to cancel an appearance at an upcoming “Jaws” reunion event, but he’ll be there with fans “in spirit.”
The Oscar-winning actor, 78, announced in a May 22 Instagram post that he will no longer be able to attend the Hollywood Show convention in California, where several members of the classic film’s original cast and crew are set to appear.
“It truly breaks my heart that I won’t be able to attend the reunion at The Hollywood Show May 29th & 30th,” he wrote. “Please know this was never the outcome I hoped for. Due to circumstances completely beyond my control, it has become impossible for me to be there in person.”
Dreyfuss did not share details of why he is unable to attend the event. But the “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” star said his “heart is absolutely with my fellow cast members who will be attending,” adding that he hopes “everyone attending gives them the warmest welcome and all the love they deserve!”
Dreyfuss also thanked “Jaws” fans for “carrying this story with you through the years” and wrote that “while I may not be there physically, I’ll certainly be there in spirit.”
The convention also shared the news on Instagram and thanked attendees for their “patience, understanding, and continued support.”
Dreyfuss starred as marine biologist Matt Hooper in Steven Spielberg’s 1975 classic “Jaws.” He is the last surviving member of the movie’s original acting trio after Roy Scheider, who played Martin Brody, died in 2008 at age 75. Robert Shaw, who played Quint, died in 1978 at 51.
The Hollywood Show convention is set to include appearances by several actors who had supporting roles in “Jaws,” including Jeffrey Voorhees, who played shark attack victim Alex Kintner, and Jeffrey Kramer, who played Deputy Hendricks. The event is billed as the “largest ‘Jaws’ cast reunion in history.”
Dreyfuss previously had to cancel an appearance at the shark-themed fan convention SharkCon in July after coming down with viral bronchitis.
At the time, the actor said he had been “told by my doctors I cannot fly, and I would have to fly five hours to get there.” He added, “I feel terrible about not showing up, and I’d feel worse about exposing you to this apparently very viral illness.”
Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY
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