Steven Spielberg Supports Roy Scheider Scholarship Fund

Steven Spielberg will honor his Jaws star Roy Scheider by helping to support a scholarship fund in the late actor’s name. Spielberg has pledged a $50,000 challenge grant to help fund the Roy Scheider Scholarship Endowment Fund, which will provide scholarships for inner-city students to study at the renowned Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Spielberg will join Scheider’s widow, Brenda Siemer Scheider, in sending a fundraising letter for the scholarship to entertainment industry leaders. Scheider, who also starred in Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz, passed away on February 10th at age 75. The Stella Adler Studio announced the scholarship at their March 18th Stella by Starlight gala benefit.

The Stella Adler Studio also paid tribute to Scheider at the Stella by Starlight event by posthumously awarding the performer with their Group Theatre Award for prolific achievement in theatre. The studio also honored Hollywood veteran Martin Sheen, as his former “West Wing” first lady Stockard Channing presented Sheen with the Marlon Brando Award in recognition of the actor’s film career and social activism. Among the luminaries in attendance at Stella by Starlight were Network director Sidney Lumet and actors Kathleen Turner, Laura Linney and Holland Taylor.

For more information, visit www.stellaadler.com.