Richard Dreyfuss facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Dreyfuss
Dreyfuss in 2023
Born	Richard Stephen Dreyfus (1947-10-29) October 29, 1947 (age 77) Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Education	San Fernando Valley State College
Occupation	Actor producer
Years active	1964–present
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Jeramie Rain ​ ​ (m. 1983; div. 1995)​ Janelle Lacey ​ ​ (m. 1999; div. 2005)​ Svetlana Erokhin ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	3
Relatives	Lorin Dreyfuss (brother) Natalie Dreyfuss (niece)
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Richard Stephen Dreyfuss (born October 29, 1947) is a famous American actor. He became well-known in the 1970s, starring in many popular movies. He has won several big awards for his acting, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe Award.

Dreyfuss became famous for his roles in movies like American Graffiti (1973), The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974), Jaws (1975), and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his part in the romantic comedy The Goodbye Girl (1977). He was also nominated for an Oscar for his role in the 1995 drama Mr. Holland's Opus. Some of his other well-known films include Stand by Me (1986), What About Bob? (1991), and The American President (1995).

On television, Dreyfuss played the main character in the CBS show The Education of Max Bickford (2001–2002). He also appeared in TV movies like Oliver Twist (1997) and Madoff (2016).

Early Life and Education

Richard Dreyfuss was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on October 29, 1947. His father, Norman Dreyfuss, was a lawyer and businessman. His mother, Geraldine, was a peace activist. Richard has an older brother, Lorin, who was also an actor, and a younger sister, Cathy.

His family moved to Los Angeles when he was nine years old. Richard attended Beverly Hills High School. His family is Jewish, with roots in Russia and Poland.

Richard Dreyfuss's Acting Career

Richard Dreyfuss started acting when he was young. He performed in plays at community centers. His first TV role was at age fifteen in In Mama's House.

Early Acting Roles (1964–1974)

Dreyfuss went to California State University, Northridge for a year. During the Vietnam War, he worked at a hospital instead of serving in the military. At this time, he had small roles in TV shows like Peyton Place and Gunsmoke. He also acted on stage in Broadway and other plays.

His first movie appearance was a very small, uncredited part in The Graduate (1967). He had a bigger role in Hello Down There (1969). In 1973, he got a key role in the hit movie American Graffiti, directed by George Lucas. He then played his first main role in the Canadian film The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974), which critics really liked.

Becoming a Star (1975–1995)

Dreyfuss became a huge star in the 1970s. He starred in two very successful movies directed by Steven Spielberg: Jaws (1975) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977).

In 1978, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Goodbye Girl. He was the youngest actor to win this award at the time, at 30 years old. This record was held for 25 years.

After a break, Dreyfuss made a strong return to Hollywood. He appeared in Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986) and Stakeout (1987). He also narrated the popular coming-of-age movie Stand by Me (1986). He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in the movie Nuts.

In 1989, he worked with Steven Spielberg again in Always. He also starred with Bill Murray in the funny movie What About Bob? (1991). In 1995, Dreyfuss received his second Oscar nomination for his performance in Mr. Holland's Opus. In this film, he played a music teacher who inspires his students.

Later Career (1996–Present)

Dreyfuss in 1997

Dreyfuss continued to work in movies, television, and theater. In 1997, he did a voiceover for Apple Computer's "Think Different" ad campaign. He also narrated The Call of the Wild: Dog of the Yukon. In 1999, he performed in a play called The Prisoner of Second Avenue in London.

From 2004 to 2008, Dreyfuss was a research adviser at St Antony's College, Oxford. In 2006, he appeared in the movie Poseidon. He also played U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney in the 2008 film W.

Dreyfuss at Italy Lifetime Achievement Awards (2021)

In 2009, he guest-voiced himself in an episode of Family Guy. He also appeared in the TV series Weeds in 2010. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located at 7021 Hollywood Blvd.

In 2014, he was featured in a documentary called "Lincoln's Greatest Speech," where he recited Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. In 2016, he played Bernie Madoff in the miniseries Madoff. More recently, he appeared in the comedy Book Club (2018) and the Netflix movie The Last Laugh.

Richard Dreyfuss's Personal Life

Family Life

Richard Dreyfuss married writer and producer Jeramie Rain in the early 1980s. They had three children together before divorcing in 1995. He then married Janelle Lacey in 1999, and they divorced in 2005.

In 2006, Richard Dreyfuss married Svetlana Erokhin. As of 2020, they live in the San Diego area.

Interests and Views

Dreyfuss is very interested in improving civics education in schools. He believes it's important for young people to learn about their rights and responsibilities as citizens. In 2006, he started The Dreyfuss Civics Initiative (TDCI), an organization dedicated to this goal.

He has spoken at events like The National Press Club to encourage discussions about civics. In 2007, he appeared in a documentary about youth voting called 18 in '08.

In 1995, Dreyfuss co-wrote a novel called The Two Georges with Harry Turtledove. In 2022, he wrote a book about teaching civics in American schools.

Dreyfuss has shared his thoughts on how media influences public opinion. He supports ideas like the right to privacy, freedom of speech, and democracy. He has been a member of the Common Cause National Governing Board.

Awards and Achievements

Richard Dreyfuss has received many awards for his acting.

See also

In Spanish: Richard Dreyfuss para niños