NEED TO KNOW
- Richard Dreyfuss canceled his appearance at a shark-themed fan convention after being diagnosed with viral bronchitis
- The Jaws actor revealed in a video statement that he’s “in a lot of pain” and tending to his illness “has to come first”
- Dreyfuss was scheduled to appear at SharkCon in Florida on both Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13
Richard Dreyfuss dropped out of a fan convention after coming down with viral bronchitis.
The Jaws actor, 77, was set to take part in autograph and photo sessions at SharkCon — a themed event sponsored by National Geographic — in Florida on both Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13, but he said in a video shared on the convention’s Instagram page that he was diagnosed with the illness and was unable to catch a flight to Tampa.
“Hello cons, I’m very, very sorry to tell you that I’ve been diagnosed with viral bronchitis,” he said in a clip from what appeared to be a hospital bed. “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.”
As Dreyfuss explained, he “didn’t want to get anyone else sick” and didn’t “want to get sicker myself.”
“I feel terrible about not showing up, and I’d feel worse about exposing you to this apparently very viral illness,” he continued, adding: “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.”
“I want you all to feel very sorry for me,” Dreyfuss then joked. “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.”
Elsewhere in the video, Dreyfuss’ wife, Svetlana Erokhin, also mentioned the star’s “great fans” and how the actor will see them soon.
A representative for Dreyfuss did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on July 13.
Shark Con said fans will be automatically refunded for any “prepaid autographs and photo op” purchases that involved Dreyfuss.
“We are so sorry for any inconvenience,” the convention’s statement read. “Thank you.”
Fans and celebrities alike left messages in the post’s comment section, wishing Dreyfuss a “speedy recovery.” Among them were Sharon Stone and Rosie O’Donnell.
Other celebrity attendees at the event included Jaws actor Jeffrey Voorhees, Jaws 3-D actor John Putch and Jaws 2 actor John Dukakis.
Read the full article here
