Mark Gilpin, who played police chief Martin Brody’s (Roy Scheider) second son in Jaws 2, has died at the age of 56, The Hollywood Reporter reports.
Gilpin died Saturday in Dallas after a long battle with glioblastoma, her sister, “Frasier” actress Peri Gilpin, said. hollywood reporter.
Gilpin beat out hundreds of other boys when he accepted a casting call for the role of Sean Brody in the sequel to Steven Spielberg’s classic Jaws (1975) in 1978. Gilpin was 11 years old when the film was released theatrically.
Lorraine Gary reappeared as Chief Brody’s wife in “Joe 2,” directed by Jano Schwark. However, the sons Michael and Sean, originally played by Chris Rebello and Jay Mello in Jaws, were replaced by Marc Gruner and Gilpin in the second film series.
‘Jaws 2’ star Mark Gilpin dies at 56 https://t.co/OxQnB34lt9
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 2, 2023
The following year, Gilpin made a guest appearance on NBC’s ‘CHiPs’ and also appeared on ABC’s ‘Fantasy Island’ with her sister April. According to the paper, he appeared in the 1981 films “Earthbound” and “The Legend of the Long Ranger.”
Gilpin also appeared in the ABC television movie Surviving (1985), telling a story about a teenager (Zach Galligan) dealing with the aftermath of his father’s cheating. Gilpin was in the Grade A class, which included veterans Ellen Burstyn, Paul Sorvino, Len Curiou and Marsha Mason, as well as rising stars Molly Ringwald, River Phoenix and Heather O’Rourke. (Related: Wrestling legend Adrian Street dies at 82)
Besides Peri, Mark is survived by his wife Kaki and two sons, Spencer and Presley.
