Marc Gilpin, ‘Jaws 2’ Actor and Brother of Peri Gilpin, Dies at 56

Marc Gilpin, the former child actor best known for his role as Sean Brody in Jaws 2, passed away on July 29, 2023, at the age of 56 after a lengthy battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was the younger brother of Frasier star Peri Gilpin, who announced his death.

Marc’s acting career began with a breakout role in the 1978 family film Where’s Willy?, in which he played the title character. That same year, he gained widespread recognition for his performance in Jaws 2, the sequel to Steven Spielberg’s iconic thriller. Directed by Jeannot Szwarc, the film also included small roles for his sisters, April and Peri. Marc was cast after beating out hundreds of young hopefuls for the part.

He went on to appear in several other films throughout the 1980s, including The Legend of the Lone Ranger, Earthbound, and the 1985 TV movie Surviving, where he starred alongside Ellen Burstyn, River Phoenix, and Molly Ringwald. His performance in Surviving led to representation by a manager who also took notice of his sister Peri’s talent.

Marc’s additional screen credits include guest roles in Silver Spoons, Right to Kill?, China Beach, and She’s Out of Control. In the years that followed, he left acting behind to pursue a successful career as a software engineer.