Dreyfuss went on to star in the box office blockbusters '' Jaws '' ( 1975 ) and '' Close Encounters of the Third Kind '' ( 1977 ) , both directed by Steven Spielberg . He won the 1978 Academy Award for Best Actor at the 50th Academy Awards ceremony for his portrayal of a struggling actor in '' The Goodbye Girl '' ( 1977 ) , becoming the youngest actor to do so ( at the age of 30 years , 125 days old ) , besting Marlon Brando , who had won his first Oscar in 1955 at the age of 30 years 360 days old . This record stood for 25 years until it was broken in 2003 by Adrien Brody , who was three weeks shy of age 30 at the time of the 75th Academy Awards ceremony
50th Academy Awards
50th Academy Awards
Richard Dreyfuss