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Jaws actor Richard Dreyfuss was forced to cancel a fan convention appearance after being hospitalised over the weekend.
The 77-year-old actor, who played sceptical oceanographer Matt Hooper in Steven Spielberg’s 1975 horror classic, was due to appear at the National Geographic-sponsored SharkCon in Florida.
However, in a video shared to the convention’s Instagram, he revealed he was pulling out of the appearance after getting diagnosed with viral bronchitis.
In a video from his hospital bed, Richard said: ‘Hello cons, I’m very, very sorry to tell you that I’ve been diagnosed with viral bronchitis. And I’ve been told by my doctors I cannot fly, and I would have to fly five hours to get there.
‘I’m terribly sorry because I had planned to be there and had been looking forward to it.’
The themed event – which was focused on shark shows and films – took place at Florida State Fairgrounds Expo in Tampa, where Richard was set for photo ops and autograph signings.
In his video message, Richard added that he ‘didn’t want to get anyone else sick’.
He said: ‘I feel terrible about not showing up, and I’d feel worse about exposing you to this apparently very viral illness.
‘But there will be other times and I will make it my business to show up and I want to wish you all good luck and happiness.’
Richard, who sparked a fierce backlash last year after a rant against the MeToo movement and LGBTQ+ rights, admitted to being ‘in a lot of pain’ and insisted that his health was his top priority.
The Stand by Me star jokingly added: ‘I want you all to feel very sorry for me. And very sorry for yourselves. I’m in a lot of pain, and that has to come first, my health, and I feel very good about having the time and enough health.’
Viral bronchitis symptoms
According to the NHS, symptoms include:
- High temperature
- Cough, and possibly coughing up clear, white, yellow or green mucus
- Chest pain when coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
SharkCon has also offered an apology to fans, and confirmed: ‘All prepaid autographs and photo ops will automatically be refunded. There is no reason to reach out.
‘It will take 5-10 business days plus what your bank takes for them to be processed. We are so sorry for any inconvenience. Thank you.’
Hollywood star Sharon Stone has already expressed her support for her showbiz pal, encouraging Richard to ‘give [her] a hug’.
The 67-year-old actress wrote online: ‘Honey, feel better. The world is not good without you then come over and give me a hug.’
Richard wasn’t the only star from the Jaws franchise booked for the event.
Others at the convention included Jaws stars Jeffrey Voorhees, Jonathan and Steven Searle, and Carla Hogendy, Jaws 2 actors John Dukakis and G. Thomas Dunlop, and Jaws 3-D castmembers John Putch, Jackie Kuntarich Cook and Liz Smith.
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