Quiz

His performance as Captain Quint in Lo squalo (1975) is ranked #28 on "Premiere" Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

Many of Captain Quint's ramblings in Lo squalo (1975) were actually Shaw's improvisations, and he is considered one of many authors of the famous USS Indianapolis scene.

Was made to wear lifts when filming A 007, dalla Russia con amore (1963) to appear physically threatening to Sean Connery. Connery was about four inches taller than Shaw. He also dyed his hair blonde.

One regular means of relaxation, was to play music loudly on his stereo at home. Robert Shaw enjoyed listening to the likes of the Beatles and Joe Cocker.

Once Robert Shaw began experiencing initial stardom, he quickly dismissed it as something to not take seriously.

Twice portrayed a villain opposite a hero played by Sean Connery. The first was that of SPECTRE killer Donald Grant in A 007, dalla Russia con amore (1963) opposite Connery as secret agent James Bond 007. The second was the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin e Marian (1976) opposite Connery as aging forest archer Robin Hood.

A keen sportsman, he played rugby for London Wasps. In 1957 his school quarter-mile record still stood. He was an expert swordsman and a squash enthusiast.

In the town of Westhoughton in England, there is a pub called The Robert Shaw.

Allegedly didn't get along with Richard Dreyfuss while filming Lo squalo (1975).

Although he had been paid $350,000 for his role in "Battle of the Bulge" (1965)--in those days, roughly £125,000 and more than he had made in his entire career up to that point--he was prepared to reduce his fee to £12,000 for his next film, "A Man For All Seasons", which he regarded as a film of much higher quality.

Has been acknowledged as a big influence on fellow actor Richard Dreyfuss.

One of three actors to have been Oscar-nominated for playing King Henry VIII of England. The other two are Charles Laughton and Richard Burton, but Laughton is the only one of the three to have won (in 1933).

Was reportedly unhappy with the film adaptation of his play, "The Man in the Glass Booth." So much so, the actor refused to have his name included on the film's credits.

From the early 1960s, Robert Shaw viewed Sean Connery as his main rival in terms of succeeding as a big star.

He has appeared in three films that have been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Un uomo per tutte le stagioni (1966), La stangata (1973) and Lo squalo (1975). A Man for All Seasons and The Sting won in the category.

Marvel Comics villain Sebastian Shaw was named and modeled after him.

Throughout his life, the actor said that he experienced more satisfaction from writing than acting.

True to his acting roots, Robert Shaw continued working in the theatre throughout his life.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1969 Tony Award as author of best play nominee The Man in the Glass Booth.

Some actors who worked with Shaw, found him to be rather competitive on the set and issuing challenges of different kinds.

Had a farm in Ireland.

Moved to the Irish Republic in 1965, where he lived with his family for the rest of his life.

His film career began to falter during the latter half of the 1960s before it regained momentum.

Uncle of author, actor and filmmaker Scott Shaw.

Until recently, very little footage of Robert Shaw being interviewed was thought to exist.

After his TV role in The Buccaneers (1956), he changed track and joined the London Old Vic Company ,playing in many Shakespearean dramas which then took him to the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-on-Avon, England.

Father of film editor, Penelope Shaw.

Reportedly, the actor wasn't interested in playing the role of Quint. It took a lot of persuasion from his wife, Mary Ure, before changing his mind.

Due to a back injury as a young man, Robert Shaw had a particular gait where his one shoulder was lower than the other.

In "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" (1973), Orson Welles was due to play The Oracle but his agent asked for an extortionate fee for the expected 3 days of voice work. The film company turned to Robert Shaw who was holidaying in Spain where the unit was, and he did the work in a day.

He has appeared in two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: La stangata (1973) and Lo squalo (1975).

Both he and director Mark Robson, passed away before the release of "Avalanche Express," in which they were both working.

Was considered for the role of Peter Janeway in Il maratoneta (1976).

After "The Buccaneers" show was canceled, acting jobs were scarce for a while. Robert Shaw worked in a food factory for about a year, as a result.

Before deciding on an acting career, Robert Shaw briefly worked as a school teacher.

Disliked working with Maximilian Schell during filming of "End of the Game," when the latter was director.

Father of Ian Shaw and Colin Shaw.

Wasn't very keen on driving cars or any other vehicle.

During his time as a RADA student in the late 1940s, Shaw's acting tended to be criticized for being raucous and bombastic.

When director Sam Peckinpah was planning his war movie "Cross of Iron," he wanted Robert Shaw for the leading role of Sergeant Steiner.

For two years during the 1940s, Shaw was directed in the theatre by John Gielgud.

Appeared in a theatre production of "Old Times" by Harold Pinter in 1971.

Was considered for a prominent role in the movie, "The Boston Strangler" in 1968.

Was in the original stage production of "The Long and the Short and the Tall" in 1959. Shaw played Sergeant Mitchem.

Appeared in a theatre production of Harold Pinter's "The Caretaker" in 1961. Along with fellow cast members Alan Bates and Donald Pleasence, he reprised his role for the film version in 1963.

In the novel "The Taking of Pelham 123", one of the characters liked to walk off nervous energy, and Shaw played the villain in Il colpo della metropolitana - Un ostaggio al minuto (1974); he tried to walk off chest pains in 1978 and wound up dying of a heart attack.

His play "The Man in the Glass Booth," made its debut on Broadway in 1967. Directed by Harold Pinter and starring Donald Pleasence in the lead, the play received positive reviews.

Played the title role in a stage musical of "Elmer Gantry" in 1970.

Wrote a draft of Ipcress (1965) that wasn't used.

Is one of 13 actors to have received an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of a real-life king. The others in chronological order are Charles Laughton for Le sei mogli di Enrico VIII (1933), Robert Morley for Maria Antonietta (1938), Basil Rathbone for Un vagabondo alla corte di Francia (1938), Laurence Olivier for Enrico V (1944) and Riccardo III (1955), José Ferrer for Giovanna d'Arco (1948), Yul Brynner for Il re ed io (1956), John Gielgud for Becket e il suo re (1964), Peter O'Toole for Becket e il suo re (1964) and Il leone d'inverno (1968), Richard Burton for Anna dei mille giorni (1969), Kenneth Branagh for Enrico V (1989), Nigel Hawthorne for La pazzia di Re Giorgio (1994), and Colin Firth for Il discorso del re (2010).