Chattanooga Times Free Press

Bruce, the last ‘Jaws’ shark, docks at Academy Museum

- BY LINDSEY BAHR

Bruce, the fiberglass shark made from the “Jaws” mold, is ready for his close- up. The 1,208 pound, 25- foot- long, 45-year- old shark, famous for being difficult to work with on the set of Steven Spielberg’s classic thriller, on Friday was hoisted up in the air above the main escalator of the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles where he will greet guests for the foreseeabl­e future. And this time, he cooperated.

It is the culminatio­n of years of planning, including a seven- month restoratio­n by special effects and makeup artist Greg Nicotero. The shark is expected to be a major draw for the museum, which plans to open its doors to the public on April 30, 2021.

Super fans know that the “Jaws” crew started calling the shark Bruce after Spielberg’s lawyer Bruce Ramer. They’ll also know that the Bruce that will greet guests in the museum wasn’t technicall­y in “Jaws.” He’s a replica and it’s the last of his kind. The three mechanical Great Whites designed by art director Joe Alves were destroyed when production wrapped. But once the film proved to be a box office phenomenon, a fourth shark was made from the original mold. For 15 years he hung at Universal Studios Hollywood as a photo opportunit­y for visitors until he wound up at the Sun Valley junkyard he would call home for the next 25. Nathan Adlan, who inherited his father’s junkyard business, donated him to the museum in 2016.

But Bruce wasn’t quite camera ready. A quarter- century in the California sun, plus all the years of being re-painted at Universal had taken its toll on the poor creature, who badly needed care and attention. Nicotero, who has worked on “Day of the Dead” and “The Walking Dead,” said he got into the business because of “Jaws” and volunteere­d for the task of bringing him back to life.

“One of the great things about being the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is that we have access to Academy members in all craft areas of the industry,” said Academy Museum Director Bill Kramer.

 ?? AP PHOTO/ CHRIS PIZZELLO ?? A fiberglass replica of Bruce, the shark featured in Steven Spielberg’s classic 1975 film “Jaws,” is lifted into a suspended position for display at the new Academy of Museum of Motion Pictures last Friday.
AP PHOTO/ CHRIS PIZZELLO A fiberglass replica of Bruce, the shark featured in Steven Spielberg’s classic 1975 film “Jaws,” is lifted into a suspended position for display at the new Academy of Museum of Motion Pictures last Friday.

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