Richard Dreyfuss declared recently that the only director who can make a successful movie is Steven Spielberg. The Jaws actor confessed he admires Spielberg since they worked together for Jaws, in 1975, calling him a recognized genius.

The also worked together for another two movies, "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind", in 1977 and "Always", in 1989.

He says, "Steven Spielberg. He is one of those people who seem to have been living a life of quiet triumph, and I get very suspicious every time I see him."

"He is a recognized genius and has reintroduced the concept of awe into our lives," the actor added.

Dreyfuss' first film part was a very small, unaccredited part in "The Graduate", in which he only had one line, "Shall I call the cops? I'll call the cops." He made then an impression in "Dillinger", and landed a role in the 1973 hit "American Graffiti", acting with other future stars, like Harrison Ford.

Dreyfuss' played his first lead role in the Canadian film "The Apprenticeship" of Duddy Kravitz. He went on to star in the huge box office hits "Jaws" and "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind". For his portrayal of a struggling actor in "The Goodbye Girl" he won an Oscar, becoming the youngest actor at the time to ever win the Best Actor Award (this record has since been surpassed by Adrien Brody).

In November 2004, he was scheduled to appear in "The Producers" in London, but withdrew from the production a week before the opening night, because he was still suffering from problems relating to an operation for a herniated disc.

From 1983 until 1995 Dreyfuss was married to Jeramie Rain, with whom he had three children. Since 1999 he has been married to Janelle Lacey.