Editing Richard Dreyfuss

{{Short description|American actor (born 1947)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Richard Dreyfuss
| image              = File:Richard Dreyfuss (53303254573).jpg
| caption            = Dreyfuss in 2023
| birth_name         = Richard Stephen Dreyfus
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1947|10|29}}
| birth_place        = [[Brooklyn]], New York City, U.S.
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| occupation         = {{hlist|Actor|producer}}
| years_active       = 1964–present
| works              = [[List of performances by Richard Dreyfuss|Full list]]
| education          = [[San Fernando Valley State College]]<br />[[St Antony's College, Oxford]]
| spouse             = {{Plainlist|
* {{Marriage|[[Jeramie Rain]]|1983|1995|end=divorced}}
* {{Marriage|Janelle Lacey|1999|2005|end=divorced}}
* {{Marriage|Svetlana Erokhin|2006}}
}}
| children           = 3
| relatives          = {{Plainlist|
* [[Lorin Dreyfuss]] (brother)
* [[Natalie Dreyfuss]] (niece)
}}
| signature          = Richard Dreyfuss signature.svg
}}

'''Richard Stephen Dreyfuss''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|r|aɪ|f|ə|s}} {{respell|DRY|fəs}}; {{né}} '''Dreyfus''';<!--- one "S" ---><ref name="ref09">{{cite news|last=Usborne|first=David|title=Richard Dreyfuss: Out of the wreckage|newspaper=The Independent|date=January 31, 2009|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/richard-dreyfuss-out-of-the-wreckage-1521707.html|access-date=January 31, 2009}}</ref> born October 29, 1947) is an American actor. He emerged from the [[New Hollywood]] wave of American cinema, finding fame with a succession of [[leading actor|leading man]] parts in the 1970s. He has received an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]], a [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA]], and a [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Award]].

Dreyfuss rose to promimence with starring roles in ''[[American Graffiti]]'' (1973), ''[[The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (film)|The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz]]'' (1974), ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'' (1975), and ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'' (1977). He won the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] for his portrayal of Elliot Garfield in the 1977 romantic comedy ''[[The Goodbye Girl]]'', and was Oscar-nominated in the same category for his title role in the 1995 drama ''[[Mr. Holland's Opus]]''. His other film credits include ''[[The Competition (1980 film)|The Competition]]'' (1980), ''[[Stand by Me (film)|Stand by Me]]'' (1986), ''[[Down and Out in Beverly Hills]]'' (1986), ''[[Stakeout (1987 film)|Stakeout]]'' (1987), ''[[Nuts (1987 film)|Nuts]]'' (1987), ''[[Always (1989 film)|Always]]'' (1989), 
''[[Postcards from the Edge (film)|Postcards from the Edge]]'' (1990), ''[[What About Bob?]]'' (1991), ''[[The American President]]'' (1995), and ''[[W. (film)|W.]]'' (2008).

On television, Dreyfuss starred as the title character on the [[CBS]] drama series ''[[The Education of Max Bickford]]'' (2001–2002), for which he was nominated for the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series|Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor]]. He also portrayed [[Fagin]] in the 1997 [[Walt Disney Television|Disney]] adaptation of ''[[Oliver Twist (1997 film)|Oliver Twist]]'', [[Meyer Lansky]] in [[HBO]]'s ''[[Lansky (1999 film)|Lansky]]'' (1999), [[Alexander Haig]] in [[Showtime Networks|Showtime]]'s ''[[The Day Reagan Was Shot]]'' (2001), and [[Bernie Madoff]] in the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] miniseries ''[[Madoff (miniseries)|Madoff]]'' (2016).

==Early life and education==
Dreyfuss was born on October 29, 1947, in [[Brooklyn]], New York City, the second and younger son of Norman Dreyfuss, an attorney, restaurateur and plastics company owner originally from a "violent gang culture in Brooklyn",<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/sep/08/richard-dreyfuss-the-one-topic-on-which-my-dad-would-open-up-was-sex|title=Richard Dreyfuss: 'The one topic on which my dad would open up was sex'|first=Richard|last=Barber|date=September 8, 2017|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> and Geraldine (''nee'' Robbins),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eonline.com/celebrities/profile/index.jsp?uuid=5138a805-0fe7-451e-8fc2-af5b2b41e6b6 |title=Richard Dreyfuss Profile |work=[[E!|E! Entertainment Television, Inc.]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080101083914/http://www.eonline.com/celebrities/profile/index.jsp?uuid=5138a805-0fe7-451e-8fc2-af5b2b41e6b6 |archive-date=January 1, 2008 |access-date=April 26, 2019}}</ref> a [[Peace movement|peace activist]]. He is the second child of three children. He had an older brother, [[Lorin Dreyfuss|Lorin]], who was an actor, film producer and screenwriter, and a younger sister, Cathy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Richard Dreyfuss: 'The one topic on which my dad would open up was sex'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/sep/08/richard-dreyfuss-the-one-topic-on-which-my-dad-would-open-up-was-sex|access-date=February 12, 2022|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> His father Norman suffered from the debilitating physical effects of a mortar explosion at the [[Battle of the Bulge]] in [[World War II]], requiring the use of crutches, canes, and special footwear provided by the Army for the rest of his life. He left the family when his son was 21 years old, and remarried more than once; he and his son were not on speaking terms at the time of his death.<ref name="auto" />

Dreyfuss was raised in the [[Bayside, Queens|Bayside]] area of [[Queens]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/53217%7C129814/Richard-Dreyfuss/ |title=Overview for Richard Dreyfuss |publisher=[[Turner Classic Movies]] |access-date=August 2, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419022938/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/53217%7C129814/Richard-Dreyfuss/ |archive-date=April 19, 2018}}</ref> His family is Jewish, descended from immigrants from [[Russia]] and [[Poland]]; the Dreyfuss family was from [[Rzeszow]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Jacobs |first=Andrea |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017120846/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5090/is_199503/ai_n18506004 |title=Richard Dreyfuss at middle age: A rebellious Jew finds his own wisdom |newspaper=[[The Jewish Advocate]] |date=March 1995 |access-date=April 26, 2019 |via=[[FindArticles]] |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5090/is_199503/ai_n18506004 |archive-date=October 17, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/02-01-2007/0004518447&EDATE= |title=Academy Award Winning Actor Richard Dreyfuss Speaks at BHCC |via=[[PR Newswire]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523010906/http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F02-01-2007%2F0004518447&EDATE= |archive-date=May 23, 2008 |work=[[Bunker Hill Community College]] |publisher=[[United Business Media]] |date=February 1, 2007 |access-date=April 26, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> He has commented that he "grew up thinking that [[Alfred Dreyfus]] and [he] are from the same family" and that his great-grand aunt was [[Hesya Helfman]], one of the assassins of Tsar [[Alexander II of Russia]] and the only one to escape execution for the deed.<ref name="post">{{cite news |last=Brozan |first=Nadine |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE3DD1F30F933A15752C1A967958260 |title=Chronicle |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 20, 1991 |access-date=April 26, 2019 |page=9 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XOi8JO1Sso&ab_channel=Strombo | title=BEST STORY EVER: Richard Dreyfuss' Family Connection to Tsar Alexander II's Assassination | via=[[YouTube]] | date=March 14, 2014 }}</ref> His father disliked New York, and moved the family first to [[Europe]],{{clarify|date=September 2015}} and later to Los Angeles when Dreyfuss was nine.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.tribute.ca/people/Richard+Dreyfuss/4913 |title=Richard Dreyfuss biography and filmography |magazine=[[Tribute (magazine)|Tribute]] |access-date=October 3, 2011}}</ref><ref name="tca">Stated on ''[[Inside the Actors Studio]]'', 2000</ref> Dreyfuss attended [[Beverly Hills High School]].<ref name="tca" />

==Career==
{{see also|List of performances by Richard Dreyfuss}}

=== 1964–1974: Rise to prominence ===
[[File:Richard Dreyfus and Allan Carr at the Governor's Ball party after the 1989 Academy Awards.jpg|thumb|Dreyfuss (left) and producer [[Allan Carr]] at the Governor's Ball after the [[61st Academy Awards|1989 Academy Awards]]]]

Dreyfuss began acting in his youth, at [[Temple Emanuel (Beverly Hills, California)|Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills]] Arts Center and the Westside Jewish Community Center, under drama teacher Bill Miller.<ref name="tca" /><ref>Personal interview</ref> He debuted in the TV production ''In Mama's House'', when he was fifteen. He attended San Fernando Valley State College, now [[California State University, Northridge]], for a year, and was a [[conscientious objector]] during the [[Vietnam War]], working in alternate service for two years, as a clerk in a Los Angeles hospital. During this time, he acted in a few small TV roles on shows such as ''[[Peyton Place (TV series)|Peyton Place]]'', ''[[Room 222 ]]'', ''[[Gidget (TV series)|Gidget]]'', ''[[That Girl]]'', ''[[Gunsmoke]]'', ''[[Bewitched]]'', ''[[The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (TV series)|The Ghost & Mrs. Muir]]'', and ''[[The Big Valley]]''. He played a larger role  in an episode in the second season of ''[[Judd, for the Defense]]''. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, he also performed on stage on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], [[Off-Broadway]], repertory, and [[Improvisational theatre|improvisational theater]]. Dreyfuss appeared in the play ''[[The Time of Your Life]]'', which was revived on March 17, 1972, at the [[Huntington Hartford Theater]] in Los Angeles, and directed by [[Edwin Sherin]].<ref>{{cite book|title=WorldCat|publisher=Worldcat.org|oclc = 611053954}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2211&dat=19720408&id=FCcmAAAAIBAJ&pg=781,2046468|publisher=The Afro American|title=Hollywood Beat|date=April 8, 1972|access-date=January 22, 2012}}</ref>

Dreyfuss's first film role was a small, uncredited appearance in ''[[The Graduate]]''. He had one line, "Shall I get the cops? I'll get the cops." He was also briefly seen as a stagehand in ''[[Valley of the Dolls (film)|Valley of the Dolls]]'' (1967), in which he had a few lines. Dreyfuss also featured prominently in a 1969 movie, ''[[Hello Down There]]'' with Tony Randall. In mid-1972, Dreyfuss filmed a supporting role in ''[[The Second Coming of Suzanne]]'', but the movie did not premiere for two years.<ref>Lomax, Michele (October 21, 1974). {{"'}}Suzanne' fails to speak out". ''San Francisco Examiner''. p. 33.</ref> In 1973 he starred in the [[CBS]] pilot ''[[Catch-22]]''. He subsequently appeared in ''[[Dillinger (1973 film)|Dillinger]]'', and landed a key role in the 1973 [[George Lucas]] hit ''[[American Graffiti]]'', acting with other future stars such as [[Harrison Ford]].<ref name="tca" /> Dreyfuss played his first lead role in the Canadian film ''[[The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (film)|The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz]]'' (1974), receiving positive reviews, including praise from [[Pauline Kael]].<ref name="tca" />

=== 1975–1995: Career stardom and acclaim ===
Dreyfuss went on to star in box office blockbusters ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'' (1975) and ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'' (1977), both directed by [[Steven Spielberg]]. He won the 1978 [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] at the [[50th Academy Awards]] ceremony for his portrayal of a struggling actor in ''[[The Goodbye Girl]]'' (1977), becoming the youngest actor to do so (at the age of 30 years, 125 days old), besting [[Marlon Brando]], who had won his first Oscar in 1955 at the age of 30 years, 360 days old.<ref name="tca" /> This record stood for 25 years until it was broken in 2003 by [[Adrien Brody]], who was three weeks shy of age 30 at the time of the [[75th Academy Awards]] ceremony. Dreyfuss is still, however, the shortest to have ever won Best Actor, standing at about 5 foot 4 inches tall.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000377/bio?ref_=nm_ql_1|title=Richard Dreyfuss Biography Page|website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref> In five years, between 1973 and 1978, the films that Dreyfuss appeared in grossed upwards of $900 million. He made his producing debut with ''[[The Big Fix (1978 film)|The Big Fix]]'' (1978), in which he also starred.

Around 1978, Dreyfuss began using [[cocaine]] frequently; he claims to not remember anything from the production of the 1981 film ''[[Whose Life Is It Anyway? (film)|Whose Life Is It Anyway?]]''. His addiction came to a head in 1982, when he was arrested for possession of the drug after he blacked out while driving, and his [[Mercedes-Benz R107 and C107|Mercedes-Benz 450 SL]] struck a tree.<ref name="tca" /><ref name="lmtcoc">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1qpfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3621%2C3765642 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |title=Actor faces cocaine charge |date=November 13, 1982 |page=2A }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/person/77809/bio.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050109212035/http://www.mtv.com/movies/person/77809/bio.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 9, 2005|title=News - Entertainment, Music, Movies, Celebrity|publisher=MTV News}}</ref> He entered [[Drug rehabilitation|rehabilitation]] and eventually made a Hollywood comeback with the films ''[[Down and Out in Beverly Hills]]'' in 1986 and ''[[Stakeout (1987 film)|Stakeout]]'' the following year.<ref name="tca" /> Dreyfuss appeared as the elder Gordie Lachance (played by his [[The Buddy System (film)|''Buddy System'']] co-star [[Wil Wheaton]]) in [[Rob Reiner]]'s ''[[Stand by Me (film)|Stand by Me]]'', a [[Coming of age|coming-of-age]] drama/comedy adapted from [[Stephen King]]'s novella ''[[The Body (novella)|The Body]]''. He was nominated for a Golden Globe playing a defense lawyer in the courtroom thriller ''[[Nuts (1987 film)|Nuts]]''. In 1988, he reunited with director [[Paul Mazursky]] to star in the political farce ''[[Moon over Parador]]''.

In 1989, Dreyfuss reunited with Spielberg on ''[[Always (1989 film)|Always]]'', a remake of ''[[A Guy Named Joe]]'' in which he co-starred with [[Holly Hunter]], and reunited with his ''Close Encounters'' co-star [[Teri Garr]] for the comedy ''[[Let It Ride (film)|Let It Ride]]''. He had a starring role opposite [[Bill Murray]] in the 1991 comedy ''[[What About Bob?]]'', as a [[psychiatrist]] driven to insanity by a particularly obsessive new patient. That same year, Dreyfuss [[Film producer|produced]] and starred as [[Georges Picquart]] in ''[[Prisoner of Honor]]'', an [[HBO]] movie about the historical [[Dreyfus Affair]]. In 1994, he participated in the historic ''[[Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah]]'' at the [[Apostolic Palace|Vatican]] in the presence of [[Pope John Paul II]], Rav [[Elio Toaff]], [[chief rabbi]] of Rome, and [[Oscar Luigi Scalfaro]], President of the Italian Republic. He recited [[Kaddish]] as part of a performance of [[Leonard Bernstein]]'s [[Symphony No. 3 (Bernstein)|Third Symphony]] with the [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]] under the baton of [[Gilbert Levine]]. The event was broadcast worldwide. Dreyfuss received his second Oscar nomination for his performance as Glenn Holland in ''[[Mr. Holland's Opus]]'' (1995).<ref name="tca" /> Since then, he has continued working in movies, television and the stage. In 2001–2002, he played Max Bickford in the television drama ''[[The Education of Max Bickford]]''. In 2004, he appeared in the revival of ''[[Sly Fox]]'' on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] (opposite [[Eric Stoltz]], [[René Auberjonois (actor)|René Auberjonois]], [[Bronson Pinchot]] and [[Elizabeth Berkley]]).

=== 1996–present ===
[[File:Richard Dreyfuss.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Dreyfuss in 1997]]
In 1997, Dreyfuss recorded a [[Voice-over|voiceover]] for the [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer]] "[[Think Different]]" ad campaign,<ref>[http://www.geekologie.com/2011/10/touching-steve-jobs-voicing-apples-iconi.php "Touching: Steve Jobs Voicing One Of Apple's Iconic 'Think Different' Campaign Commercials"]. [[Geekologie]]. October 7, 2011</ref> and also provided the voice of the narrator in ''[[The Call of the Wild: Dog of the Yukon]]''. In 1999, Dreyfuss made his London West End debut starring alongside [[Marsha Mason]] in [[Neil Simon]]'s ''[[The Prisoner of Second Avenue]]'' at the [[Theatre Royal Haymarket]].<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Matt |last=Wolf |title=The Prisoner of Second Avenue |url=https://variety.com/1999/legit/reviews/the-prisoner-of-second-avenue-4-1117491982/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=June 28, 2024 |date=March 30, 1999}}</ref> Dreyfuss spent four years as a research adviser at [[St Antony's College, Oxford]], from 2004 until 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Smith |first1=David |date=June 24, 2020 |title=Richard Dreyfuss: 'I was a bad guy for a number of years' |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jun/24/richard-dreyfuss-bad-guy-hollywood-hellraising-metoo |access-date=May 19, 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He was scheduled to appear in a 2004 production of ''[[The Producers (musical)|The Producers]]'' in [[London]], but withdrew from the production a week before opening night. The media noted that Dreyfuss was suffering from problems relating to an operation for a [[spinal disc herniation|herniated disc]], and that the part of [[List of The Producers characters|Max Bialystock]] in the play was a physically demanding one. Both he and his assistant for the production stated that Dreyfuss was accumulating injuries that required him to wear physical therapy supports during rehearsals.<ref>Adam, Karla. [http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,1394899,00.html "My musical hell"]. ''[[The Guardian]]''. January 21, 2005</ref> After Dreyfuss was officially let go from the production he was replaced by [[Nathan Lane]]. He ultimately made his West End return at [[The Old Vic]] in 2009.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7706274.stm "Dreyfuss in London stage return"], [[BBC News]], November 3, 2008.</ref>

In 2006, he appeared as Richard Nelson, a gay architect and one of the survivors in the film ''[[Poseidon (film)|Poseidon]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.livescience.com/768-poseidon-packs-punch-real-science.html |title='Poseidon' Packs Punch of Real Science |first=Tariq |last=Malik |date=May 12, 2006 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |work=[[Live Science]] |publisher=[[Purch]]}}</ref> Dreyfuss portrayed U.S Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] in [[Oliver Stone]]'s 2008 [[George W. Bush]] biopic ''[[W. (film)|W]]''.<ref>[https://comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=45367 "Richard Dreyfuss is Dick Cheney"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725223754/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=45367 |date=July 25, 2014 }}, comingsoon.net, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', May 22, 2008.</ref>

[[File:Italy RD smile.jpg|thumb|Dreyfuss at Italy Lifetime Achievement Awards (2021)]]
In 2009, he appeared in the play ''[[Complicit (play)|Complicit]]'' by [[Joe Sutton]] at London's Old Vic theatre. The production was directed by the theatre's artistic director, [[Kevin Spacey]]. Dreyfuss's performance was subject to some controversy, due to his use of an [[In-ear monitor|earpiece]] onstage, owing to his inability to learn his lines.<ref>Thompson, Warwick. [https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=at.CnEGmT0Tk&refer=muse "Richard Dreyfuss, Sporting Earpiece, Triumphs in New Play"], [[Bloomberg News]]. January 29, 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article5608196.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616213319/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article5608196.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 16, 2011|newspaper=[[The Times]]|title=Wired for sound how Richard Dreyfuss remembers his lines|first1=Kaya|last1=Burgess|first2=Jack|last2=Malvern|date=January 29, 2009|access-date=May 22, 2010}}</ref> Spacey reportedly groped one of Dreyfuss's sons while the three of them were alone in Spacey's apartment; the allegation was denied. Richard Dreyfuss was focused on learning his lines and was unaware of any harassment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/harrydreyfuss2/actor-harry-dreyfuss-when-i-was-18-kevin-spacey-groped-me |title=Actor Harry Dreyfuss: When I Was 18, Kevin Spacey Groped Me |work=[[Buzzfeed News]] |date= November 4, 2017|accessdate=June 25, 2022}}</ref> He guest-voiced as himself in the "[[Three Kings (Family Guy)|Three Kings]]" episode of ''[[Family Guy]]'' in 2009, and later appeared in the episode "[[Peter-assment]]". Dreyfuss guest starred in the [[List of Weeds episodes#Season 6 (2010)|sixth season]] of ''[[Weeds (TV series)|Weeds]]'' as [[List of Weeds characters#Warren Schiff|Warren Schiff]], [[Nancy Botwin|Nancy]]'s high school teacher to whom she had lost her virginity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvguide.com/News/Richard-Dreyfuss-Weeds-1020226.aspx|author=Joyce Eng|title=Richard Dreyfuss to Appear on ''Weeds''|publisher=[[TVGuide]].com|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-date=December 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218202242/http://www.tvguide.com/news/richard-dreyfuss-weeds-1020226.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2010, he played Matt Boyd in ''[[Piranha 3D]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodnews.com/2010/05/05/richard-dreyfuss-reveals-why-he-made-%E2%80%98piranha-3-d%E2%80%99-%E2%80%9Cto-get-money%E2%80%9D/ |title=Richard Dreyfuss reveals why he made 'Piranha 3-D:' "to get money" |newspaper=[[Hollywood News]] |access-date=September 25, 2017 |date=May 5, 2010 |archive-date=August 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806181511/http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2010/05/05/richard-dreyfuss-reveals-why-he-made-%e2%80%98piranha-3-d%e2%80%99-%e2%80%9cto-get-money%e2%80%9d/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Dreyfuss' star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] is located at 7021 [[Hollywood Boulevard|Hollywood Blvd]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.walkoffame.com/richard-dreyfuss|title=Richard Dreyfuss |publisher=Hollywood Walk of Fame|date=October 25, 2019|access-date=February 24, 2020}}</ref> Dreyfuss took part in the 2012 Academy Awards Night of 100 Stars.

In 2014, he appeared with best-selling [[Abraham Lincoln]] scholar [[Ronald C. White]] in a documentary entitled "Lincoln's Greatest Speech", highlighting Lincoln's [[Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address|Second Inaugural Address]], appearing as host and reciting the speech on camera. Dreyfuss portrayed [[Bernie Madoff]] in ''[[Madoff (miniseries)|Madoff]]'' (2016), co-starring [[Blythe Danner]]. He followed it up with roles in the hit comedy ''[[Book Club (film)|Book Club]]'' (2018) and the [[Netflix]] movie ''[[The Last Laugh (2019 film)|The Last Laugh]]''.

==Personal life==
=== Marriages and family ===
[[File:SD RD Cannes.jpg|thumb|Dreyfuss with wife Svetlana in Cannes in 2013]]
Dreyfuss married writer and producer [[Jeramie Rain]] in the early 1980s, and they had three children. After his 1995 divorce from Rain, Dreyfuss married Janelle Lacey in 1999. They divorced in 2005.<ref>Schindehette, Susan. [http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20114571,00.html "Risen from the Ashes, Richard Dreyfuss Faces His Family's Pain with Strength, Not Self-Pity"], ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' March 4, 1991</ref>

In 2006, Dreyfuss discussed his diagnosis of [[bipolar disorder]] in the documentary ''[[Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive]]'', in which Fry (who also has the disorder) interviewed Dreyfuss about his experience being bipolar.<ref name="JOwen2006">{{cite news|last=Owen|first=Jonathan|title=Stephen Fry: My battle with mental illness|newspaper=The Independent|date=September 17, 2006|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/stephen-fry-my-battle-with-mental-illness-416386.html|access-date=August 2, 2012}}</ref>

Dreyfuss and Russian-born Svetlana Erokhin married in 2006 and as of February 2020 they reside in the [[San Diego County, California|San Diego area]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Richard Dreyfuss on facing down sharks, aliens, and his own demons|date=February 23, 2020|publisher=[[CBS News]]|url= https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/richard-dreyfuss-on-facing-down-sharks-aliens-and-his-own-demons/#|access-date=March 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>Mannes, Tanya. [http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/mar/09/1m9dreyfuss2180-earth-friendly-house-works/?zIndex=63972 "Earth-friendly house in works"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312002823/http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/mar/09/1m9dreyfuss2180-earth-friendly-house-works/?zIndex=63972 |date=March 12, 2009 }}. ''[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]''. March 9, 2009</ref> although they have frequently visited [[New York City]], [[London]], and [[Sun Valley, Idaho]].<ref>Friend, Tad. [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1999/05/31/the-gold-diggers "The Gold Diggers"]. ''[[The New Yorker]]''. May 23, 1999</ref>

During his acting career, Dreyfuss had public feuds with some of the people he worked alongside, notably actors [[Robert Shaw (actor)|Robert Shaw]] and [[Bill Murray]], who co-starred with him in ''Jaws'' and ''What About Bob?'' respectively, and filmmaker [[Oliver Stone]], who directed him in ''W''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Polowy|first=Kevin|title=Role Recall: Richard Dreyfuss on doubting 'Jaws,' coping with an abusive Bill Murray on 'What About Bob?' and more|date=June 26, 2019|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/richard-dreyfuss-best-movies-roles-stories-interview-jaws-bill-murray-130000701.html|access-date=June 27, 2019}}</ref>

In 2017, writer Jessica Teich accused Dreyfuss of [[sexual harassment]] during the filming of an [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] special.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yuan |first=Jada |date=November 10, 2017 |title=L.A. Writer Says Richard Dreyfuss Harassed, Exposed Himself to Her in the 80s |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/11/richard-dreyfuss-accused-of-exposing-himself-to-woman.html |access-date=May 27, 2024 |website=Vulture}}</ref> Dreyfuss denied the allegations. He said he had been overly flirtatious in his past, and that he regretted that behavior, but he emphasized that he "value[s] and respect[s] women" and is "not an assaulter."<ref name=grab>{{Cite magazine|first=Earl|last=Gibson|url=https://ew.com/news/2017/11/10/richard-dreyfuss-responds-harassment-allegations/|title=Richard Dreyfuss responds to sexual harassment allegations: 'I am not an assaulter'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=November 10, 2017|access-date=November 12, 2017}}</ref> He thought they were involved in a "consensual seduction ritual."<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 11, 2017 |title=Richard Dreyfuss accused of exposing himself, writer says |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/richard-dreyfuss-accused-sexual-harassment-jessica-teich/ |access-date=May 27, 2024 |publisher=[[CBS News]]}}</ref>

=== Interests ===
Dreyfuss seeks to revive [[civics]] education to teach future generations about the power of their citizenship and the principles that hold America together.<ref name="thedreyfussinitiative.org">http://www.thedreyfussinitiative.org/initiative/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908002556/http://www.thedreyfussinitiative.org/initiative/ |date=September 8, 2015 }} TDCI Website</ref> In 2006, he created The Dreyfuss Civics Initiative (TDCI).<ref name=KUSI_TDI>{{cite news|title=Special Report: Actor Richard Dreyfuss says America needs civics lesson|url=http://www.kusi.com/story/26389738/special-report-actor-richard-dreyfuss-says-america-needs-civics-lesson|agency=KUSI News|publisher=WorldNow and KUSI|date=August 27, 2014|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065153/http://www.kusi.com/story/26389738/special-report-actor-richard-dreyfuss-says-america-needs-civics-lesson|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=AP_TDI>{{cite news|title=Richard Dreyfuss: Politics Should Be Noble Calling|url=http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2014/08/21/richard-dreyfuss-politics-should-be-noble-calling/|agency=Associated Press|work=CBS News|date=August 21, 2014}}</ref> TDCI is a [[501(c) organization#501(c)(3)|501(c)3 designated organization]], recognized as of 2008.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">{{Cite web |title=HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News |url=https://www.huffpost.com/ |access-date=January 18, 2023 |website=HuffPost}}</ref>

In 2006, he spoke at The [[National Press Club (USA)|National Press Club]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], in hopes of prompting a national discussion on [[Federal impeachment in the United States|impeachment]] charges against U.S. President [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/03/30/18123631.php|title=Richard Dreyfus at the National Press Club|publisher=[[San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center]]}}</ref> Later that year, Dreyfuss appeared on [[HBO]]'s ''[[Real Time with Bill Maher]]'' as a panel member to discuss teaching Civics in schools.<ref>{{cite web |first=Michele |last=Morris |url=http://www.aarp.org/about_aarp/nrta/livelearn/richard_dreyfuss.html |title=Richard Dreyfuss's New 'Opus' |publisher=[[AARP]] |date=Summer 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014114855/http://www.aarp.org/about_aarp/nrta/livelearn/richard_dreyfuss.html |archive-date=October 14, 2007}}</ref> In 2007, Dreyfuss appeared in the youth voting documentary film ''[[18 in '08]]''.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

In 1995, Dreyfuss co-authored (with [[Harry Turtledove]]) ''[[The Two Georges]]'', a novel in which the [[American Revolution]] had been peacefully avoided.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-312-85969-5 |title=Fiction Book Review: The Two Georges by Richard Dreyfuss, Author, Wallace, Author, Harry Turtledove, With Tor Books |date=January 3, 1996 |access-date=December 31, 2018 |journal=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uchronia.net/label/dreytwogeo.html|title=Uchronia: The Two Georges|publisher=Uchronia}}</ref>  In 2022, he wrote ''One Thought Scares Me...: We Teach Our Children What We Wish Them to Know; We Don't Teach Our Children What We Don't Wish Them to Know'' about the teaching of civics in American schools.

=== Political views ===

In a 2016 interview with [[TheWrap]], Dreyfuss reportedly said, “I haven’t been a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] since [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]].”<ref>{{cite web|last=Hod|first=Itay|title=Richard Dreyfuss Explains Why He's No Longer a Democrat|date=February 16, 2016|website=TheWrap|url=https://www.thewrap.com/richard-dreyfuss-explains-why-hes-no-longer-a-democrat/|accessdate=December 30, 2024}}</ref>

Dreyfuss has been outspoken regarding the media's influence in shaping public opinion, policy, and legislation. In the 2000s, he expressed his sentiments in favor of [[right to privacy]], [[freedom of speech]], [[democracy]], and [[Laissez-faire|individual accountability]].<ref>Zweyner, Astrid (April 27, 2006). [http://blogs.reuters.com/2006/04/27/oscar-winner-dreyfuss-campaigns-against-shaped-news/ "Oscar-winner Dreyfuss campaigns against .shaped news."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061021030104/http://blogs.reuters.com/2006/04/27/oscar-winner-dreyfuss-campaigns-against-shaped-news/ |date=October 21, 2006 }}. [[Reuters]].</ref> In 2011 and 2014, Dreyfuss was elected to the [[Common Cause]] National Governing Board.

In May 2023, Dreyfuss spoke out against the Academy Awards' new [[Diversity, equity, and inclusion|diversity guidelines]] that require films to have met at least two of four benchmarks, including that the lead actors are from underrepresented groups or that at least 30% of the cast and crew come from these groups. During an interview with [[Margaret Hoover]], host of the [[PBS]] show ''[[Firing Line (TV program)|The Firing Line]]'', Dreyfuss said that the new guidelines "make me vomit". He explained that he was opposed to the guidelines because movie-making is "an art form ... and no one should be telling me as an artist that I have to give into the latest, most current idea of what morality is."<ref>{{cite news |last1=France |first1=Lisa Respers |title=Richard Dreyfuss on new Oscars diversity rules: 'They make me vomit' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/08/entertainment/richard-dreyfuss-diversity/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=May 8, 2023 |access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Caplan |first1=Anna Lazarus |title=Richard Dreyfuss Criticizes New Diversity Requirements for Oscar Contention: 'They Make Me Vomit' |url=https://people.com/movies/richard-dreyfuss-criticizes-new-diversity-requirements-for-oscar-contention-they-make-me-vomit/ |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref>

During a screening of ''Jaws'' at [[Cabot Street Cinema Theatre|The Cabot theater]] in [[Beverly, Massachusetts]], on May 27, 2024, Dreyfuss disparaged "diversity initiatives", and launched into what was described as a [[Transphobia|transphobic]], [[Misogyny|misogynistic]], [[Homophobia|homophobic]], and [[Sexism|sexist]] rant, causing many attendees to shout at the actor, and many to leave the venue in disgust. According to eyewitnesses, Dreyfuss mocked the [[MeToo movement|MeToo]] and [[LGBTQ movements]] and expressed contempt for parents of [[Transgender youth|transgender children]], suggesting that supporting a child's transition was indicative of bad parenting.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Sabrina |last=Shankman |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/27/metro/richard-dreyfuss-went-on-a-bigoted-rant-at-jaws-screening/ |title=Beverly theater apologizes after actor Richard Dreyfuss's offensive comments at "Jaws" event |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=May 27, 2024 |access-date=May 28, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Murphy |first=Chris |date=May 28, 2024 |title=Richard Dreyfuss Under Fire for Alleged Sexist Rant at 'Jaws' Screening |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/richard-dreyfuss-sexist-rant |access-date=May 29, 2024 |magazine=Vanity Fair}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 29, 2024 |title=US theatre apologises for Jaws actor Richard Dreyfuss's 'offensive remarks' during event |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-29/richard-dreyfuss-comments-on-metoo-lgbtqia-community/103906650 |access-date=May 29, 2024 |publisher=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Saperstein |first=Pat |date=May 27, 2024 |title=Richard Dreyfuss Sparks Outrage, Massachusetts Theater Apologizes for His 'Offensive and Distressing' Remarks at 'Jaws' Screening |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/richard-dreyfuss-cabot-theater-offensive-remarks-1236017160/ |access-date=May 29, 2024 |magazine=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 28, 2024 |title=Richard Dreyfuss' 'distressing and offensive' rant has prompted a Massachusetts theater to apologize |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-05-28/richard-dreyfuss-theater-apology-women-lgbtq-metoo |access-date=May 29, 2024 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 28, 2024 |title=Richard Dreyfuss' remarks about women and diversity prompt Massachusetts venue to apologize |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/richard-dreyfuss-comments-women-lgbtq-diversity-venue-apology-massachusetts/ |access-date=May 29, 2024 |publisher=CBS News}}</ref>

==Acting credits and accolades ==
{{Main|List of performances by Richard Dreyfuss}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Association
! Category
! Nominated work
! Result
! class=unsortable|Ref.
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1974
| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]]
| ''[[American Graffiti]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| [[New York Film Critics Circle Awards]]
| [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| ''[[The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (film)|The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 1976
| [[BAFTA Awards]]
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Actor in a Leading Role]]
| ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 1977
| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards|Los Angeles Film Critics Association]]
| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| rowspan="5" | ''[[The Goodbye Girl]]''
| {{won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 1978
| [[Academy Awards]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| {{won}}
|
|-
| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]]
| {{won}}
|
|-
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle
| Best Actor
| {{won}}
|
|-
| [[David di Donatello Awards|David di Donatello]]
| [[David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor|Best Foreign Actor]]
| {{won}}
|
|-
| [[Saturn Awards]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 1979
| [[BAFTA Awards]]
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Actor in a Leading Role]]
| ''[[The Goodbye Girl]]''
| {{won}}
|
|-
| 1981
| [[Razzie Awards]]
| [[Razzie Award for Worst Actor|Worst Actor]]
| ''[[The Competition (1980 film)|The Competition]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 1988
| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture]]
| ''[[Nuts (1987 film)|Nuts]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1996
| [[68th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| rowspan="2" | ''[[Mr. Holland's Opus]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama|Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama]]
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2002
| [[Satellite Awards]]
| [[Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film|Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film]]
| rowspan="2" | ''[[The Day Reagan Was Shot]]''
| {{won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]]
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie|Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie]]
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series]]
| ''[[The Education of Max Bickford]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 2004
| [[Film Critics Circle of Australia]]
| [[Film Critics Circle of Australia|Best Actor]]
| ''[[The Old Man Who Read Love Stories]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 2010
| [[Ride of Fame]]
| [[Ride of Fame]]
| Life's work
| {{won}}
|<ref>[http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Ride-of-Fame-Honors-Richard-Dreyfuss-20101105 Photo Flash: Ride of Fame Honors Richard Dreyfuss] Broadway World. November 5, 2010.</ref>
|-
| 2011
| [[Saturn Awards]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Guest Starring Role on Television|Best Guest Starring Role on Television]]
| ''[[Weeds (TV series)|Weeds]]''
| {{won}}
|
|-
| 2015
| [[FEST (Belgrade)|FEST]]
| Belgrade Winner
| Award for lifetime contribution to the art of film
| {{won}}
|
|-
|}

==Bibliography==
* Dreyfuss, Richard. (2022) ''One Thought Scares Me...: We Teach Our Children What We Wish Them to Know; We Don't Teach Our Children What We Don't Wish Them to Know''.  New York: Skyhorse Publishing.  {{ISBN|978-1-5107-7612-8}}
* Dreyfuss, Richard (with [[Harry Turtledove]]). (1996) ''[[The Two Georges]]''.  New York: Tor Books.  {{ISBN|978-0-3128-5969-5}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Richard Dreyfuss}}

* {{AFI person | 129814-Richard-Dreyfuss }}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{Tcmdb name}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{iobdb name|5860}}
* [https://hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i68061ff8eae6a637e083a38f784b7950 THR: Richard Dreyfuss finds 'Happiness'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403054533/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i68061ff8eae6a637e083a38f784b7950 |date=April 3, 2009 }}
* [http://www.thedreyfussinitiative.org The Dreyfuss Initiative]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009429m Richard Dreyfuss] interview on BBC Radio 4 ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'', May 14, 1999
* {{C-SPAN|23349}}
* {{cite web|title=Growing Up with Communists & America's Final Stage {{!}} Richard Dreyfuss {{!}} POLITICS {{!}} Rubin Report|date=April 23, 2023|website=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FDFFsfzvm4}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Richard Dreyfuss
|list =
{{AcademyAwardBestActor 1961-1980}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Actor 1960-1979}}
{{David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor}}
{{GoldenGlobeAwardBestActorMotionPictureMusicalComedy 1961-1980}}
{{Hasty Pudding Man of the Year}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor}}
{{Satellite Award Best Actor Television Miniseries or Film}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Guest Starring Role on Television}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Best Actor Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Actor BAFTA Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe (film) winners]]
[[Category:Beverly Hills High School alumni]]
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