‘Jaws’ child actor becomes police chief of town where the movie was filmed

Virgin Radio

25 May 2022, 09:41

Jonathan Searle, who appeared in 'Jaws' as a child finds the "whole thing quite funny".

He has been made the police chief of the town in which the movie was made.

Film fans will know that the movie was filmed in Oak Bluffs, a town on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.

Filming took place in 1974, and was released the following year.

Searle and his real-life brother Steven starred in the film as two children who stage a shark hoax using a fake fin.

Their antics fool the residents of the fictional town of Amity.

He has been a member of the town’s police force since 1985.

Back in 2008, life mirrored the film once more, when NBC Philadelphia reported that Searle charged a man with disorderly conduct for lying about sharks.

In 2019 the Edgartown Police Department tweeted: “Anytime we can show off the fact that Sgt. Searle was in Jaws is a good day!!” they wrote, celebrating the anniversary of the film.

Searle’s promotion to chief was confirmed on May 16.

He won the role following a 3 – 1 vote, and interviews with two other prospective candidates.

Searle told The Vineyard Gazette: “I’m clearly elated and and I’m humbled and honored to have been offered the position. It’s something I’ve been working toward my whole career.”

Speaking to The New York Post  he admitted: “I’m finding the whole thing quite funny myself!”

 Steven Spielberg turned down a reboot of Jaws at Universal last year, and Deadline  reported that his anwer has always been "a firm no."