A Celebration of the Work and Life of Roy Scheider to Be Held April 4 in Beverly Hills

At the 81st Annual Academy Awards(R) last Sunday, the late Roy Scheider was memorialized as one of Hollywood's great actors. As an extension to his tribute in the 2009 Oscar "In Memorium" video, Roy Scheider's late wife Brenda Siemer Scheider, along with Joshua Newton, British writer-director of Iron Cross, Mr. Scheider's last film, are honoring the internationally acclaimed actor with an exclusive star-studded event at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Hollywood will toast the late actor on Saturday, April 4 in an evening produced by family friend and director Gordon Hunt, father of Oscar-winning actress Helen Hunt, which will feature appearances and speeches from friends and industry colleagues along with a special surprise performance. The evening will benefit The Myeloma Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

"What would best honor Roy's talent and determination would be our success in raising money for stem cell research and finding a cure for multiple myeloma," said Brenda Siemer Scheider.

In February 2008 renowned actor Roy Scheider lost his battle to myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow. Coincidentally, Joshua Newton's father passed from the same disease just several months earlier. Both died during the filming of Iron Cross, a $30m revenge thriller, in which Roy plays the lead, a character inspired by the director's father, Bruno Newton. Roy passed just one day short of completing his filming, challenging Joshua Newton to finish the scene Roy had left by using groundbreaking CGI technology. The film is slated to be completed in Summer 2009. Guests will be treated to a special sneak preview of the trailer for Iron Cross at the event.

"I didn't know Roy had myeloma when I thought of him to play a role which was essentially my father," states Joshua Newton. "There were many strange coincidences like that which surrounded the production of Iron Cross, in which Roy has delivered one of the most powerful performances of his career. Myeloma has robbed Brenda and I of two people whom we adored and admired and we're pleased to honor them both at a fantastic event that will raise much needed funds for myeloma research."

Mr. Scheider has been nominated twice for Academy Awards for "The French Connection" (Best Supporting Actor) and "All That Jazz" (Best Actor). His many films include "Klute," "The Seven Ups," "Marathon Man," "Blue Thunder," "52 Pick-Up," "Sorcerer," "The Russia House," "The Rainmaker" and most famously "Jaws." His television work included three seasons of "SeaQuest DSV" and two award winning HBO projects "Somebody Has to Shoot the Picture" and "RKO 281." Mr. Scheider also received an "Obie" for his role in the Off Broadway production of "Stephen D," and was awarded The Drama League Award for Best Performance in the Broadway production of Harold Pinter's "Betrayal."

 

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