ROBERT SHAW: AN ACTOR'S LIFE ON THE SET OF JAWS AND BEYOND
5993
Price:
$29.00
Museum Member Price: $26.10
Museum Member Price: $26.10
Robert Shaw: An Actor’s Life on the Set of JAWS and Beyond Hardcover – May 27, 2025 by Christopher Shaw Myers (Author) Just in time for the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, an intimate and richly-told portrait of the iconic actor and writer Robert Shaw, from his portrayal of the legendary shark hunter Captain Quint and beyond, written lovingly but honestly by his nephew.
“Go for the Jaws, stay for the Shaws.” —Nat Segaloff, author of The Exorcist Legacy
Robert Shaw unforgettably commanded attention as the weathered seaman Captain Quint in the blockbuster sensation, Jaws. But what came before and after that landmark film is as dramatic as the hunt for the great white shark itself. Capturing the many facets of the vibrant, generous, and sometimes polarizing man is his nephew, Christopher, who explores the forces that shaped a dynamic personality—including Robert’s indomitable mother, his deeply troubled father, and his activist sister, Joanna, with whom Robert shared an unbreakable bond. Out of the traumatic events of their childhood in the Orkney Islands and Cornwall, Mrs. Shaw pushed her children to pursue their dreams. For Robert, that dream was acting and writing.
Despite a storied career on the British and American stage—as both performer and playwright—and a string of hit films including From Russia with Love, A Man for All Seasons, The Sting, and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, international celebrity eluded Robert . . . until he was summoned to star in “a little horror film” called Jaws.
“Go for the Jaws, stay for the Shaws.” —Nat Segaloff, author of The Exorcist Legacy
Robert Shaw unforgettably commanded attention as the weathered seaman Captain Quint in the blockbuster sensation, Jaws. But what came before and after that landmark film is as dramatic as the hunt for the great white shark itself. Capturing the many facets of the vibrant, generous, and sometimes polarizing man is his nephew, Christopher, who explores the forces that shaped a dynamic personality—including Robert’s indomitable mother, his deeply troubled father, and his activist sister, Joanna, with whom Robert shared an unbreakable bond. Out of the traumatic events of their childhood in the Orkney Islands and Cornwall, Mrs. Shaw pushed her children to pursue their dreams. For Robert, that dream was acting and writing.
Despite a storied career on the British and American stage—as both performer and playwright—and a string of hit films including From Russia with Love, A Man for All Seasons, The Sting, and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, international celebrity eluded Robert . . . until he was summoned to star in “a little horror film” called Jaws.
What happened on-screen was unforgettable. What happened off-screen was chaos. Now Christopher Shaw Myers reveals the true story of the making of the classic. Jaws would become both an artistic success and a worldwide triumph for Robert Shaw. Tragically, for a man shadowed by his father’s demons, it would also signal the beginning of the end.
Drawing on family recollections, personal letters, scrapbooks, recordings, extensive interviews, and a lifetime of his own memories, Christopher paints a unique, intimate, and honest portrait of a man he was proud to call his uncle.
Drawing on family recollections, personal letters, scrapbooks, recordings, extensive interviews, and a lifetime of his own memories, Christopher paints a unique, intimate, and honest portrait of a man he was proud to call his uncle.
About the Author
Christopher Shaw Myers grew up listening to the stories told by his colorful uncle, Robert Shaw, and other family members. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, he attended Trinity College, where he double majored in English Literature and Mathematics; and Columbia University, where he received a master’s in business administration. After a 30-year career in the hi-tech field, he delved deeper into his family’s history to explore the magic that Robert and his siblings cultivated in their lives.
Product details
Publisher : Citadel Press
Publication date : May 27, 2025
Language : English
Print length : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 0806544325
ISBN-13 : 978-0806544328
Item Weight : 1.1 pounds
Dimensions : 6.27 x 1.12 x 9.3 inches
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For customer service inquiries, please email academymuseumstore@oscars.org or call us at +1 323.930.3035. Our Customer Service team is available during store business hours. We do our best to respond to all customers within 48 hours. Response times may be extended during holidays and promotions. Inquiries are answered in the order they are received.
We are located at:
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
6067 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
United States
General Admission is not required to visit the Academy Museum Store and is open to the general public during our normal business hours.
The Academy Museum is open six days a week 10am-6pm, closed on Tuesday.