R.I.P. Marc Gilpin: ‘Jaws 2’ Actor Dead at 56

By Samantha Nungesser @samjnungesser
Published Aug. 2, 2023, 9:28 a.m. ET

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Marc Gilpin, the former child actor known for playing Roy Scheider‘s younger son in Jaws 2, has died following a long battle with cancer. He was 56.

Gilpin’s older sister, Frasier star Peri Gilpin, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter. According to the outlet, Marc died in Dallas, Texas on Saturday (July 29) from glioblastoma — which is an aggressive brain tumor.

In May 2022, family friends of the Gilpins set up a GoFundMe campaign for Marc, who was “facing the unimaginable” after he was diagnosed with two brain tumors — one of which could not be surgically removed due to its location.

The former actor, who later became a self-taught software engineer, was also struggling financially as he had recently lost his job, and his wife, an elementary school teacher, had to take time off from work to care for him.

Born on Sept. 26 in Austin, Texas, Marc had his breakout role as the title character in the family film Where’s Willy? in 1978, before going on to star as Sean in the sequel to Steven Spielberg‘s blockbuster hit Jaws that same year. The movie, which was directed by Jeannot Szwarc, brought back Scheider as Chief Martin Brody and Lorraine Gray as his wife. However, they swapped out actors Chris Rebello and Jay Mello, who played their children Michael and Sean, for Mark Gruner and Gilpin, who was 11 when the film hit theaters.

'Jaws 2'
Photo: Everett Collection

A year later, he guest-starred on NBC’s crime drama series CHiPS, before going on to appear with his younger sister, April, in ABC’s Fantasy Island. He further acted in the movies The Legend of the Lone Ranger and Earthbound — both of which were released in 1981.

Gilpin was also a part of the star-studded television film Surviving: A Family in Crisis in 1985, which starred Molly Ringwald, River Phoenix and Zach Galligan. The story, which followed the aftermath of teen suicide, could be compared to the likes of a modern-day Romeo and Juliet.

The star’s most recent film credit was in 1989, when he starred as a parking attendant in the Tony Danza-led comedy She’s Out of Control.

Gilpin is survived by his sister, Peri, his wife of 24 years, Kaki, and sons Spencer, 18, and Presley, 16.