[2] Gottlieb studied drama at Syracuse University where he befriended character actor Larry Hankin.

He also appeared on camera on Ken Berry's Wow Show variety summer television program in 1972.

Gottlieb was hired as an actor to appear as Harry Meadows, the editor of the local newspaper, in Jaws.

He was hired by his friend, Steven Spielberg, to redraft the script, adding more dimensions to the characters, particularly humor.

His redrafts reduced the role of Meadows (who still appears in the Town Hall corridor and the Tiger Shark scene).