American Graffiti, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Mr. Holland's Opus
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"Civility is not not saying negative or harsh things. It is not the absence of critical analysis. It is the manner in which we are sharing this territorial freedom of political discussion. If our discourse is yelled and screamed and interrupted and patronized, that's uncivil." Richard Dreyfuss has always been outspoken, and has wanted to share his values and beliefs with others. But he believes in sharing in a civil, valuable manner, instead of working to shout people down, instead. He's carried that goal and desire throughout his life, as he sees how groups and people can become marginalized and have their voices unheard. Acting gives him a chance to provide a voice to the voiceless, as well. But how did he get his start, and what's he doing now? Read on to find out more.
Humble Beginnings Set the Stage for Greatness
Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised Jewish, Dreyfuss' father was a restaurateur and attorney, and his mother was a peace activist. Dreyfuss grew up in Queens, Europe, and Los Angeles, California, where the family moved when he was nine years old. He went to high school in Beverly Hills. Dreyfuss started acting at an early age, and had a role in a TV production called In Mama's House by the time he was 15. He attended college in California for a year, and was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War. During that time he worked in alternate service, as a clerk in a hospital in Los Angeles. He also had some small TV roles during that time, and could be seen on Gunsmoke, Bewitched, Gidget, The Big Valley, Peyton Place, and others.
He got involved with Broadway and off-Broadway productions, improvisational theater, and repertory, to make sure he kept his name in front of people in the acting world. His first role in film was in The Graduate (1967), and it was only one line. The role was uncredited. He had a few lines as a stagehand in Valley of the Dolls that same year, for which he received credit. Then in 1973 he was the star of the TV pilot Catch-22, and appeared in Dillinger, as well. That was a good year for Dreyfuss, as he also found himself with a role in American Graffiti. In the Canadian film The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974), Dreyfuss was given his first feature role. After that role, blockbuster films were in store for Dreyfuss.
Moving On to More Dramatic Roles
Dreyfuss has said, "John Kennedy really did extend the reach of the American people and said, like Lincoln said in a way, that our reach is farther than our grasp — and we should aim high." He certainly did aim high, and it brought him stardom in films such as Jaws (1975), and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). He also appeared in The Goodbye Girl (1977), for which he won a Best Actor Academy Award. At the time, Dreyfuss broke a record for the youngest actor ever to win this award. That record had previously been held by Marlin Brando, and has since been broken by Adrien Brody. But there was much more in store for Dreyfuss after he finished those big, starring roles.
In 1986, after some struggles that he worked through, Dreyfuss made his comeback in Down and Out in Beverly Hills. The following year, he continued his popularity with Stakeout. He has been in everything from Stephen King adaptations to political farces, showing the range of his acting abilities. He was a hit in the 1991 comedy What About Bob?, where he played opposite Bill Murray. Dreyfuss was also in Mr. Holland's Opus (1995), and was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for his role in that film. He has worked on movies, on television, and on the stage since that time. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and has also done voice-over roles on animated shows like Family Guy.
Dreyfuss is into politics and civic issues, where he is primarily concerned about how the media influences and shapes public opinion. He has started a civics initiative to teach young people about the true value of citizenship and having their voices heard. His public appearances in recent years have largely been focused on addressing the issues that initiative finds important. He has also co-authored a fiction book which was published in 1995. Dreyfuss has been married twice and has three children. He is passionate about the causes and people he cares about, and the goals and dreams he has for the future. Fans will just have to wait to see what Dreyfuss does next. He certainly has more to offer to the world.
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