Peter Benchley has died!

[MovieMann16]

By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer 48 minutes ago

NEW YORK - Peter Benchley, whose novel "Jaws" terrorized millions of swimmers even as the author himself became an advocate for the conservation of sharks, has died at age 65, his widow said Sunday.

Wendy Benchley, married to the author for 41 years, said he died Saturday night at their home in Princeton, N.J. The cause of death, she said, was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive and a fatal scarring of the lungs.

Thanks to Benchley's 1974 novel, and Steven Spielberg's blockbuster movie of the same name, the simple act of ocean swimming became synonymous with fatal horror, of still water followed by ominous, pumping music, then teeth and blood and panic.

[j7wild]

That's a shame!!

Mr. Benchley will be surely missed!!

His novel Jaws became a world famous popular culture due to movie-making magic and in the process, it created 2 things:

a Legendary director named Steven Spielberg

and

the yearly Summer Blockbuster Movies.

May Mr. Benchley Rests In Peace!!

[wirm]

I did enjoy his ocean-horror books. Jaws, The Beast, and White Shark.