Peter Benchley

:: Peter Benchley - Arts - 2005

Peter Benchley is world-renowned as the author of "JAWS," a best selling novel that was made into one of the largest Hollywood blockbuster movies in history. But, several years before he wrote "JAWS." Benchley had already established himself as a talented writer, with freelance articles for National Geographic Magazine. His first piece was about Nantucket Island, and in the ensuing decades he has written more than a dozen stores for the magazine about everything from New Zealand to Great White sharks, from Galapagos Islands to the underwater world of New Guinea. He has also written for National Geographic Traveler and one of his recent stories won the 2003 Lowell Thomas Gold award for adventure - travel writing for the Society of American Travel Writers.

From his novels about the sea had has been called "the preeminent mythologist of our time." He has appeared in, hosted and written and or narrated dozens of television documentaries about the sea, including the April, 2000 two hour National Geographic Explorer special, "Great White, Deep Trouble."

In addition to his best selling novels (such as, "The Deep," "Beast", and "Shark Trouble") and his TV documentaries, Benchley has written or co-written several screenplays and televisions pilots, and has created two television series, "Peter Bentley's Amazon" and (in collaboration) "Dolphin Cover." His many stores and articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines all over the world.

For the past several years Benchley has been a full time marine conservationist, traveling the world and speaking against such odious practices as shark fining and drift net fishing. He is currently an executive producer and host of the World of Water film series that produces, in partnership with the New England Aquarium, short films aimed at entertaining and educating children about the sea. Benchley is a member of the National Board of Environmental Defense.