Guide Note

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 is expected to be released prior to the 2008 presidential election.¹

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-old²
4. Has three children with first wife, Jeramie Rain; Emily, Benjamin and Harry Spencer³
5. Spouse: Svetlana Erokhin (third wife)
6. Won the Best Actor Oscar for The Goodbye Girl at the age of 29⁴
7. 1982:Treated for drug addiction after a car accident and arrest for cocaine possession⁵
8. 1991: Co-founded LA Works, nonprofit public action and volunteer center⁶
9. 2004: Senior Advisory Fellow at St. Antony's College at Oxford University

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.

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

"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."⁷

"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."⁸

"We never forgive in other people what we casually forgive in ourselves. We always forgive in others what we never forgive in ourselves."⁹