In celebration of Shark Week, we’d thought we spotlight the true star of the hit 1975 film “Jaws.” No, not Roy Scheider. We’re talking about Pipit, a black labrador retriever, who unfortunately meets her untimely demise after getting too close to Bruce the shark while trying to retrieve a stick. Don’t worry -- the real pooch, who was also named Pipit, was not harmed during the movie’s production.

According to a video uploaded on The Daily Jaws YouTube channel, the dog’s pup parents were Edo and Robert Potter, who lived close to Martha’s Vineyard, which was the filming location for “Jaws.” The Potter’s niece had been informed that the movie’s production was seeking “an enthusiastic and vigorous dog,” and thought Pipit would be the perfect fit. The Potter’s son, named Stephen, accompanied the pup on set and played her owner.

Pipit did very well, considering she did not have an acting background. That being said, there were just a few issues. In the book “Jaws: Memories from Martha's Vineyard: A Definitive Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Greatest Suspense Thriller of All Time” by Matt Taylor, Stephen Potter revealed that Pipit was a bit confused when he kept calling her.

Photo by Anastassia Anufrieva on Unsplash

“It was just hysterical … I was looking out at the water, trying to look concerned about my missing dog, and every time I called Pipit’s name, she’d respond by barking a few yards from behind the camera,” said Potter.

The actress who portrayed Mrs. Kintner in both “Jaws” and “Jaws: The Revenge,” Lee Fierro, also revealed that “one of the assistant directors” requested that she and her on-screen son Jeff Voorhees kept the dog quiet.

“Jeff Voorhees and I took Pipit up over the dunes and held her ears so they could continue filming without her barking every time her master called her name. It was very funny,” remembered Fierro.

Unfortunately, only three years after the movie was filmed, Pipit passed away at the age of nine. Her gravestone reads “Star of Jaws.” Even though she has been gone for over 40 years, Pipit remains to be one of the most significant dogs in movie history. She is even referenced in the movie “Meg.”

Pipit is not the only pooch to be a scene-stealer in a Steven Spielberg film. According to Screen Rant, the director’s adorable spaniel Elmer had roles in “Jaws,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “The Sugarland Express,” and “The Wiz.” During a 1977 interview, the director described the talented dog as “very spoiled.” Frankly, we hope that was the case because any movie star, regardless of their species, should be treated very well.

In Celebration of Pipit -- The Real Star of 'Jaws'

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