‘Jaws’ Actor Reveals How Much He Still Makes 50 Years Later: ““It Pays To Die”

One of Jaws child actors, Jeffrey Voorhees, is still benefiting financially from his small but memorable role. He was just 12 years old when he played Alex Kintner in the 1975 Steven Spielberg thriller.

Alex didn’t get much screen time, as his character was attacked and killed by a shark early in the film. Despite the brief appearance, Jeffrey has turned it into a lasting career thanks to the film’s loyal fanbase.

Today, at 62, he travels around the world meeting fans, selling signed memorabilia, and even leading guided tours on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, where the movie was filmed.

Jeffrey told The Sun, “It pays to die. I was a 12-year-old kid who was in the movie for, like, a minute, but there are some real Jaws fanatics out there. One guy in England just bought 125 photos. I do signings. “

“They fly me all over the world and pay me in cash at those things—around £10,000 a time. There are Jaws tours and people pay double if I’m on them, and next month I’m appearing at three Meet, Greet and Mingle Parties.”

He also continues to earn money whenever Jaws airs on television around the world. “My brother lives in Portugal, and I’ll get texts from him going, ‘Good news, you just died on TV over here. You’ll get another cheque,’” he joked.

In addition to appearances and TV royalties, Jeffrey has found success through personalized videos on Cameo. On one occasion, a family even paid for him to record a message after a loved one passed away while watching the movie.

Jeffrey recounted, “I said, ‘Hey, your father and I had a little something in common. He died watching me die. This is the dead Alex Kintner, Jeff Voorhees, here on Martha’s Vineyard—Amity Island. Just want to say—have a Jawesome funeral.’ I thought they’d be annoyed, but they gave me a five-star review.”

Jeffrey admits he used to hide the fact he was in Jaws, but he has since embraced it. “At first, I used to hide from the fact that I’d been in Jaws, and then finally I realised I could make some good money and make people happy.”

Jaws remains one of the most successful film franchises ever, spawning three sequels, a theme park ride, video games, and endless merchandise. The original movie’s iconic score and suspenseful story helped it gross over $800 million worldwide across all four films.

Jaws may be 50 years old, but its influence and fanbase remain strong, giving actors like Jeffrey Voorhees a unique way to keep the legacy alive, and earn from it.

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