Richard Dreyfuss: Biography, Health, and Iconic Movies

There aren’t many actors who can say they’ve been chased by a mechanical shark, serenaded by aliens, and won an Oscar before turning 31. Richard Dreyfuss did all that — and then nearly lost everything to addiction before rebuilding his life as a public advocate for mental health.

Born: October 29, 1947 (age 76) ·
Academy Award: Best Actor (1978) for ‘The Goodbye Girl’ ·
Diagnosed Condition: Bipolar disorder (publicly disclosed) ·
Sober Since: 1982

Six key facts, one pattern: Dreyfuss’s life is a study in contrasts — early triumph, near-collapse, and a long second act defined by advocacy.

What condition does Richard Dreyfuss have?

Richard Dreyfuss has been open about living with bipolar disorder, a condition he has described as both a challenge and a gift. In a profile by NAMI San Mateo (mental health advocacy organization), Dreyfuss said he has lived with bipolar disorder and that it has been good for him. He prefers the term “manic depressive” over “bipolar” when discussing his condition.

Dreyfuss has been in psychotherapy since age 19, according to the same NAMI San Mateo profile. He became strict about taking medication after learning that without it, he would not be as good a father, husband, actor, or civic activist. It took him four years to find the right medication protocol.

He discussed his bipolar disorder publicly in the 2006 documentary Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, as noted by TV Guide (celebrity biography database).

The implication: Dreyfuss’s mental health journey is not a sidebar to his career — it’s central to how he understands himself and his resilience.

When did Richard Dreyfuss get sober?

Richard Dreyfuss hit a breaking point in 1982. According to Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia), his cocaine addiction came to a head when he was arrested for possession after blacking out while driving and crashing his Mercedes-Benz 450 SL into a tree. He entered recovery and has been sober since.

According to IMDb (film industry database), Dreyfuss attributes much of his ability to end drug addiction to a life-altering vision he experienced in hospital after a bad car crash. The same source notes he had a serious drug problem in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

What happened with Richard Dreyfuss in 1982?

• He was arrested for cocaine possession after a car crash
• He entered recovery and achieved sobriety
• His addiction nearly ended his career but he turned his life around

The trade-off: Dreyfuss lost several years of prime career momentum to addiction, but gained a platform for advocacy that has lasted decades.

What is Richard Dreyfuss most famous for?

Richard Dreyfuss is best known for three landmark films released within three years: Jaws (1975), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), and The Goodbye Girl (1977). For the last, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor — at the time, the youngest actor ever to win that category, according to Wikipedia.

What was Richard Dreyfuss’s biggest movie?

By cultural impact and box office, Jaws is widely considered his biggest film. Directed by Steven Spielberg, it became the highest-grossing film of all time upon its 1975 release and is credited with creating the summer blockbuster. Dreyfuss played oceanographer Matt Hooper.

Who didn’t get along during the filming of Jaws?

Tensions ran high on the set of Jaws. According to multiple accounts, Robert Shaw (who played Quint), Richard Dreyfuss, and director Steven Spielberg clashed frequently. Spielberg later described Dreyfuss as “difficult, but brilliant” in interviews. The conflicts were fueled by long delays, difficult ocean filming conditions, and personality clashes.

The pattern: Dreyfuss’s most famous work came in a three-year burst of creative intensity, fueled by a young actor’s ambition and, later, complicated by substance use.

What ethnicity is Richard Dreyfuss?

Richard Dreyfuss is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. His family roots trace back to Eastern Europe. He has spoken about his Jewish identity and heritage in interviews, and it has informed some of his acting choices and public statements over the years.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Norman Dreyfuss, a lawyer, and Geraldine (née Robbins), a homemaker. His father was of Jewish descent and his mother converted to Judaism, according to biographical records.

The implication: Dreyfuss’s Jewish heritage is a consistent thread in his identity, though he has not made it the central focus of his public persona.

What was the last movie Richard Dreyfuss was in?

As of 2024, Richard Dreyfuss’s most recent film is The Last Rifleman (2023). He also appeared in Murder at Yellowstone City (2022). He continues to take on film and television roles, demonstrating that at 76, he remains active in the industry.

His filmography spans nearly six decades, from his feature film debut in 1967 with an uncredited part in Valley of the Dolls (as noted by TV Guide) to his most recent work in 2023.

The pattern: Dreyfuss has never formally retired. His pace has slowed, but he continues to accept roles that interest him.

What movie took 48 years to make?

The film The Last Rifleman (2023) took 48 years from initial concept to release. Richard Dreyfuss stars in the film, which tells the story of a World War II veteran traveling to France for the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

Why did the movie take so long?

• The script was originally written in the 1970s
• Various production challenges delayed filming for decades
• Dreyfuss was attached to the project for many years before it finally went into production

The implication: The Last Rifleman represents a unique kind of career capstone — a project that waited nearly five decades for the right moment, and an actor who waited with it.

Timeline

• 1964: First acting role in TV series The Big Valley
• 1973: Breakthrough role in American Graffiti
• 1975: Starred in Jaws
• 1977: Starred in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and won Oscar for The Goodbye Girl
• 1982: Hit breaking point due to addiction; entered recovery and became sober
• 2006: Revealed bipolar disorder diagnosis; married Svetlana Erokhin
• 2023: Released The Last Rifleman, a film 48 years in the making

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Quotes

“I had a lot of demons. I had to learn to live with them.”

— Richard Dreyfuss, on his addiction recovery

“I’m not ashamed of it. It’s a part of me.”

— Richard Dreyfuss, on his bipolar disorder

“He was difficult, but brilliant.”

— Steven Spielberg, on working with Dreyfuss on Jaws

Summary

Richard Dreyfuss’s life is not a simple Hollywood arc. He reached the top faster than almost anyone, then spent years climbing back from the bottom. His willingness to talk openly about bipolar disorder and addiction recovery has made him a reference point for others facing similar battles. For anyone watching a public figure navigate mental health challenges, the lesson from Dreyfuss is clear: the same intensity that nearly destroyed a career can, with treatment and time, become its foundation.

Frequently asked questions