Jaws star Richard Dreyfuss was scheduled to appear at this year's SharkCon, but was forced to cancel his planned appearance at the fan event due to coming down with viral bronchitis. Here's what he had to say to fans.
What Happened to Jaws Icon Richard Dreyfuss?
Richard Dreyfuss, who is famously known for his iconic role in the Jaws franchise as Matt Hooper, will not be attending this year's SharkCon event due to his most recent and concerning health update.
As Stephen Spielberg's three-time Oscar-winning film turns 50 this year, the SharkCon has hyped new and original fans to get the chance to meet the Academy-winning actor in the flesh.
That, however, goes down the drain when Dreyfuss addressed followers on Instagram about why he won't be making his appearance, unfortunately.
Looking quite frail in bed while wrapped in a Jaws 50th Anniversary blanket, Dreyfuss said hello to the camera, "Hello, fellow cons. I am very, very sorry to tell you that I've been diagnosed with, viral, er... what is it?"
The 77-year-old was also diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2010, but with the help of his wife, Svetlana Erokhin, off-screen, he was able to talk about his current health status.
After confirming that Dreyfuss contracted viral bronchitis, he continued, "I've been told by my doctors I cannot fly, and I would have to fly five hours to get there. I'm terribly sorry because I had planned to be [at SharkCon] and I had been looking forward to it, but I am unable to do so."
Dreyfuss also sends his wishes to fans to "not get anyone else sick" and promises that there will be "other times" when he could "make it his business to show up." For now, he wishes to prioritize his health.
What Happens to the SharkCon Despite Dreyfuss' Absence?
The organizers of SharkCon shared his message and announced what fans can expect despite his absence.
First off, the SharkCon organizers captioned the shared message by reassuring fans, "All prepaid autographs and photo ops will be automatically refunded."
As for how long the refund will take for each attendee, "It will take 5-10 business days, plus what your bank takes to process. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Thank you."
Don't worry about missing Dreyfuss, though. There's still hope for next anniversary.
For now, according to the event's website, other SharkCon 2025 attendees still had a chance with other Jaws actors like Jeffrey Voorhees, Jonathan and Steven Searle, and Carla Hogendyk.
From Jaws 2, the cast members invited John Dukakis and G. Thomas Dunlop, and actors John Putch, Jackie Kuntarich Cook, and Liz Smith from Jaws 3-D.
This year's SharkCon took place this weekend at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo in Tampa. The event was sponsored by National Geographic.
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