In an event that was largely bypassed by the mainstream press, the Irish village of Tourmakeady unveiled a memorial to the acclaimed actor and playwright Robert Shaw, whose screen roles included Quint in Jaws, Red Grant in the James Bond thriller From Russia, With Love and the criminal mastermind in The Taking of Pelham One-Two-Three. Shaw was also an accomplished playwright, having authored The Man in the Glass Booth.
The iconic actor died thirty years ago this week. He was only 51 years of age. Although a brilliant actor and writer, Shaw always battled the bottle and eventually this affliction contributed to his declining health. In the small Irish village that Shaw adored and spent the last seven years of his life, his third wife Virginia and his children gathered for the unveiling of the memorial- an understated stone monument with a simple inscription saying "In honour of Robert Shaw who lived in Tourmakeady. Rest in Peace." It would have been what Shaw preferred. Despite his success and acclaim, he favored living a simple life and called the village of Tourmakeady the most unspoiled place he had ever seen. He died before fulfilling his ultimate goal: retiring from show business and running a small hotel in the village where he would serve as bartender. Cinema Retro reader John Murphy has visited the memorial and provides this photo.