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Robert Shaw's nephew CHRISTOPHER SHAW MYERS, author of ROBERT SHAW: An Actor's Life on the Set of JAWS and Beyond - Chris spoke to Bill about the book. and JAWS - first narrative biography of Robert Shaw, written by his nephew, bringing fresh insight into the life of the celebrated actor
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ABOUT ROBERT SHAW: An Actor's Life on the Set of JAWS and Beyond
ROBERT SHAW: An Actor's Life on the Set of JAWS and Beyond (on sale May 27, 2025; HC, $29.00) is the first narrative biography of Robert Shaw, written by his nephew, Christopher Shaw Myers, bringing fresh insight into the life of the celebrated actor. The biography is timed to the 50th Anniversary of JAWS this summer; Universal is bringing the film back to first-run theatres just in time for (gulp!) beach season.
A true Renaissance man, Robert Shaw's professional success on the screen, stage, and page are just one part of his multifaceted story. From his childhood as a Brit in Orkney, Robert was a natural leader who had a penchant for performing. Despite stacked successes both on and off the stage-he was one of the few people to receive both an Oscar nomination for acting and a Tony nomination for writing-international fame eluded him until the breakout of JAWS.
Myers also offers a revealing look at the forces that shaped such a dynamic individual, including Shaw's childhood during World War II, his indomitable mother, his activist sister, and the traumatic events of their childhood that led to Shaw's lifelong battle with alcohol addiction.
Shaw cut his teeth in the London theatre, acting alongside such legendary Shakespearian stalwarts as Sir John Gielgud, Sir Alec Guiness, and Sir Michael Redgrave. He was nominated for an Oscar (A Man for All Seasons) and dyed his hair blond as James Bond's nemesis in To Russia With Love. He developed his craft moving between stage, screen, and television. He helped Paul Newman and Robert Redford turn The Sting into Academy Award gold.
But it was Shaw's unforgettable role in the astounding success of JAWS, the groundbreaking film that became the first "summer blockbuster" which transformed American film forever. With genre-bending innovation and revolutionary revenue as the first movie to exceed $100 million in the U.S. box office, JAWS was, and remains, a legendary touchstone in pop culture.
The film's iconic USS Indianapolis monologue was written by Shaw himself and had fans scrambling to their history books to learn more about this gruesome moment in military history. "Anyway, we delivered the bomb."
ABOUT CHRISTOPHER SHAW MYERS
Chris Myers attended Trinity College, where he double majored in English Literature and Mathematics, and Columbia University, where he received a Master of Business Administration. After a thirty-year career in the hi-tech field, working with companies across the U.S. and Europe, Chris delved deeper into his family's history to explore the magic that the Shaws cultivated in their lives.
In addition to ROBERT SHAW: An Actor's Life On The Set Of JAWS And Beyond, Chris has written a screenplay, JAWS & Mrs. Shaw, which was a semi-finalist in the prestigious LA Screenwriters Awards. His current project is the Darwin Little Chronicles, about three young boys who must overcome their handicaps to succeed in professional sports.
When you can't find Chris on the golf course, traveling, writing, or raising a toast with friends and family, he will likely be at home playing his guitar. Chris lives in Fairfield County, CT.