Richard looked pale and appeared to struggle when addressing fans heading to the event.
Richard said to the camera: ‘Hello fellow cons. I am very, very sorry to tell you that I’ve been diagnosed with, viral, er…What is it?’
Off-screen, his wife Svetlana Erokhin confirmed that he was suffering from viral bronchitis, though Richard struggled to repeat the word himself.
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to your lungs.
He continued: ‘I’ve been told by my doctors I cannot fly and I would have to fly five hours to get there.
‘I’m terribly sorry because I had planned to be there [at SharkCon] and I had been looking forward to it, but I am unable to do so. I don’t want to get anyone else sick, and I don’t want to get sicker myself.
Jaws stars Roy Scheider (middle) as police chief Martin Brody, who, with the help of a marine biologist (Richard right) and a professional shark hunter (Robert Shaw left), hunts a man-eating great white shark that attacks beachgoers at a New England summer resort town
‘I feel terrible about not showing up and I feel worse about exposing you to this apparently very viral illness. But there will be other times and I will make it my business to show up.
‘I want to wish you all good luck and happiness and I want you all to feel very sorry for me, and very sorry for yourselves. I’m in a lot of pain and that has to come first, my health. I feel very good about having the time and enough health.’
Svetlana added: ‘And such great fans!’ as Richard agreed: ‘And such great fans.’ She said: ‘We love you, we miss you all and we will see you soon.
‘That’s my wife saying that!’ Richard explained. ‘She’s right, she knows how to do this. So good luck, happy health, happy con – bye!’
The SharkCon organisers confirmed to fans in the caption: ‘All prepaid autographs and photo ops will automatically be refunded. There is no reason to reach out.
‘It will take 5-10 business days plus what your bank takes for them to be processed. We are so sorry for any inconvenience. Thank you.’
Fans were concerned for Richard and flooded the comment section with well wishes.
One wrote: ‘Your health is most important. Don’t feel bad about it. Get better quickly!’;
‘This is my all time favourite move!! Feel better Richard… sending healing prayers’
‘He will always be one of the great actors of his time’
Sharon Stone added: ‘Honey, feel better. The world is not good without you then come over and give me a hug.’
Based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley, Jaws stars Roy Scheider as police chief Martin Brody, who, with the help of a marine biologist (Richard) and a professional shark hunter (Robert Shaw), hunts a man-eating great white shark that attacks beachgoers at a New England summer resort town.