Richard Dreyfuss cancels appearance after being hospitalized for 'very viral illness'
'I'm in a lot of pain and that has to come first, my health. I feel very good about having the time and enough health.'
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Richard Dreyfuss was forced to disappoint fans at SharkCon over the weekend due to a “very viral illness.”
The Jaws star, 77, issued a statement on Friday from his hospital bed, explaining why he would be missing the annual event held this year at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo in Tampa.
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Richard Dreyfuss cancels appearance after being hospitalized for 'very viral illness' Back to video
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“Hello, fellow cons. I am very, very sorry to tell you that Ive (sic) been diagnosed with viral…” he began in a video posted to SharkCon’s Instagram account, before trailing off as his wife, Svetlana Erokhin, is heard saying offscreen “bronchitis.”
The Oscar winner, tucked in the bed with a Jaws blanket, continued: “I’ve been told by my doctors I cannot fly, and I would have to fly five hours to get (to SharkCon).”
The Mr. Holland’s Opus star added: “I’m terribly sorry because I had planned to be there and had been looking forward to it but I’m unable to do so.
“I don’t want to get anyone else sick, and I don’t want to get sicker myself. I feel terrible about not showing up, and I’d feel worse about exposing you to this, apparently, very viral illness.”
In the caption, convention organizers noted that refunds would be issued for those who pre-paid for autographs and photo-ops with the actor.
Dreyfuss promised that “there will be other times, and I will make it my business to show up.”
He added with a smile: “And I want to wish you all good luck and happiness, and I want you all to feel very sorry for me, and very sorry for yourselves.
Dreyfuss then said: “I’m in a lot of pain and that has to come first, my health. I feel very good about having the time and enough health.”
“And such great fans,” his wife is heard adding, which Dreyfuss repeats with a smile.
Erokhin adds: “We love you, we miss you all, and we will see you soon,” to which the actor agreed.
“Happy health, happy con, bye.”
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Dreyfuss played Hooper in the award-winning film directed by Steven Spielberg, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
SharkCon 2025, which is sponsored by National Geographic, gathers marine biologists and other experts, scuba professionals, shark enthusiasts, vendors, and creatives whose work touches on all things shark for a weekend “dedicated to raising awareness about shark and ocean conservation,” according to the event’s website.
Much of the convention was devoted to celebrating the 1975 movie’s milestone.
Other Jaws alums who attended SharkCon included Jeffrey Voorhees, Jonathan Searle, Steven Searle, and Carla Hogendyk, along with actors from its sequels, Jaws 2 and Jaws 3-D.
Based on the 1974 novel of the same name by Peter Benchley, Jaws follows Dreyfuss’ marine biologist character, Roy Scheider’s police chief Martin Brody, and Robert Shaw’s shark hunter Quint as they hunted a great white shark terrorizing a fictional New England resort town.
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