The son of legendary actor Robert Shaw—the Westhoughton-born star best known for his role as the grizzled shark hunter Quint in Jaws—paid a visit to his father’s hometown this week. Ian Shaw, an actor and writer, stopped by Westhoughton on 5th February 2025 while in the region performing his critically acclaimed play, The Shark is Broken, at The Lowry Theatre in Salford.
Ian, who was just five years old when he visited the Jaws set in 1974, has spent the past few years honouring his father’s legacy in an unexpected way—by stepping into his shoes, quite literally, on stage. The Shark is Broken, co-written by Ian and playwright Joseph Nixon, explores the behind-the-scenes tensions, delays, and camaraderie between Robert Shaw and his co-stars Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider while filming Jaws.
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Despite looking and sounding like his father, Ian initially hesitated to take on the role, fearing it might be "career suicide." Speaking to ITV, he said: "I thought it was potentially career suicide because people would just think I was cashing in. But actually, it became something really personal—a way to get to know my father better."
The play—rooted in Robert Shaw’s own diaries—became an unexpected success, premiering at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2019 before transferring to London’s West End, Broadway, and now a UK and Ireland tour marking the 50th anniversary of Jaws.
A visit home to Westhoughton
During his visit to Westhoughton, Ian took time to stop by the Robert Shaw Wetherspoon’s pub, named in honour of his father. The pub, known for displaying memorabilia related to Robert Shaw’s acting career, provided a nostalgic setting for Ian to reflect on his father’s roots.
