Olympic swimming legend Mark Spitz was nearly in the movie “Jaws,” as he revealed on the “Today” show this week.
The seven-time gold medal winner said he met with director Steven Spielberg, took acting lessons and screen-tested for a role in the popular shark thriller. Unfortunately for him, the part he tested for eventually went to Richard Dreyfuss.
“Everything was great, but it was so close to the Olympics they couldn’t get over the idea that I was still going to be Mark Spitz, that the transcending of who I was as an athlete into the movies was too great,” he said.
By the time the movie premiered, the role had changed. When Spitz read for the part, his character was supposed to be eaten by the shark.
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