Anecdotes

Became a conservationist and expressed regret over portraying sharks as killing machines as he did in his first novel Jaws. The book sold over twenty million copies and was made into the big-screen classic Les Dents de la mer (1975).

For Les Dents de la mer (1975), he was paid $175,000 for the book and screenplay with escalator clauses that brought his total for film rights to about $250,000. In addition he received 10% of the production's net profits, which was approximately $10 million. He received another $1 million for the book's foreign sales, as of 1976.

After graduating from Harvard University in 1961 he became a reporter at the Washington Post then worked as an editor at Newsweek. He later went to the White House where he wrote difficult speeches about the Vietnam War for President Lyndon Johnson.

Graduated from Harvard University in 1961

Former speech writer for U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson.

Grandson of Robert Benchley. Son of Nathaniel Benchley. Brother of Nat Benchley.

His first book was a children's book called, Jonathon Visits the White House.

Three children with Winifred (Wendy): Tracy, Clayton and Christopher. Five grandchildren.

He was inducted in the 2018 New Jersey Hall of Fame in the Arts and Letters category.

Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Writers Branch)

He was nominated for the 2016 New Jersey Hall of Fame in the Arts and Letters category.