Welcome Aboard!

Most Vineyarders (like Jon Searle) know that the real Amity Island, the place where Jaws was filmed, is actually Martha's Vineyard. But few recognize that this detective for the Edgartown Police Department played a serious role in the famous film. When Spielberg and the gang first came to town in the late seventies, they hit the local elementary school in search of a fresh face to play one of the chief's sons. At the time Jon was either too young or too old; needless to say, he didn't get the job (nor did it bruise his feelings about the law enforcement profession), but when he caught wind that the producers had added an extra part, he and his brother immediately raced down to the set and volunteered.

As they say in the biz, there are no small parts, only small actors; in this case that turned out to be true. "Jonny" (as we call him) snagged the role of the boy with the fake shark fin, and his famous line "He made me do it!" put him on the map. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, Jon's in the spotlight again out on his boat, a pristine Boston Whaler Outrage called Fake Fin, named after his contribution to an American classic. Jon got his big break early. Hopefully this latest appearance will help to extend his 15 minutes of fame.