THE OVAL OFFICE

RICHARD DREYFUSS

Academy Award recipient for his work in the hit comedy "The Goodbye Girl," RICHARD DREYFUSS' diverse talents have brought him recognition as a star on stage and motion pictures. From his many acclaimed stage performances in such dramas as "Death and the Maiden" to his work in such box-office successes as "Jaws," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Down and Out in Beverly Hills," Dreyfuss has built a worldwide following.

Most recently he starred in "Mr. Holland's Opus," an Interscope production released by The Disney Studio. Just before that he starred in "Three Hotels" at The Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles; directed "Our Love Is Here To Stay," a 30-minute film starring Anne Archer, Carrie Fisher and William Peterson for Showtime's "Directed By" series; as well as starring as Mark Antony in the L.A. Theatre Works/BBC Radio/ KCRW production of "Julius Caesar," scheduled to be broadcast later this year.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Dreyfuss and his parents moved to Los Angeles when he was eight-years-old. It was not much later he realized he wanted to spend his life as an actor. He attended Beverly Hills High School, began his acting career at The Westside Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles, studied for a year at San Fernando Valley State College and, then, as a conscientious objector, spent the next two years in alternate service as a clerk at Los Angeles County Hospital.

In the late sixties and early seventies, Dreyfuss commuted between both coasts doing Broadway, off-Broadway, repertory and improvisational comedy, as well as some guest appearances on television.

Dreyfuss made his motion picture debut in 1967 with a bit part in "Valley of the Dolls," followed by one line in "The Graduate." Several films later, in 1973, his sensitive portrayal of an ambivalent college-bound teen in the cult classic "American Graffiti," garnered him both praise and attention. This was the beginning of a string of stellar performances in such films as "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz," "Jaws," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "The Goodbye Girl," for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1977 at the age of 29...the youngest actor to win this coveted award.

The 80's saw a string of acclaimed movies starring Dreyfuss including "Down and Out In Beverly Hills," "Tin Men" and "Stakeout," followed by at least a dozen others.

Like many other actors, Dreyfuss began his career on stage. But few have returned to their theatrical roots as steadfastly as he with starring roles in "The Hands of Its Enemy," "The Normal Heart," and most recently the Broadway production of "Death and the Maiden" with Glenn Close and Gene Hackman. This past summer he made his bow as a director for The Birmingham Theatre Company's production of "Hamlet" at The Old Rep in England. He is also a member of the Los Angeles Classic Theatre Group.

One of the many dimensions Dreyfuss has displayed throughout the years of his success has been his political and social activism. He has campaigned for political candidates, given testimony before congressional and other governmental committees, worked with groups promoting solutions to the Arab/Israeli conflict and encouraged community service and civic literacy, among other activities. Dreyfuss has made his involvement in these issues a high priority in his life.

Situation Room

The Lobby