Dr. Fred Spiess
Biography
Fred Spiess was a pioneering American oceanographer, naval officer, and marine engineer. A graduate of UC Berkeley (B.S. and Ph.D.) and Harvard (M.S.), he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before joining the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1952. Spiess developed groundbreaking deep‑sea research tools, including the Deep Tow vehicle, and advanced the use of acoustics for seafloor mapping, helping shape modern oceanographic exploration. He served as director of Scripps’ Marine Physical Laboratory and was recognized with major honors such as the Maurice Ewing Medal and election to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering. In 1980 and 1981 he joined the Jack Grimm Titanic search expeditions as chief scientific consultant, helping operate and interpret sonar and deep‑towed data
Known For & Full Filmography3 Titles
Drama Series - 2025, 16 episodes • as Self (archive footage)
For seven decades after its tragic sinking, the Titanic lay undiscovered on the ocean floor. This compelling two-part documentary tracks the search for the wreck across the depths of the Atlantic.
Movie - 1981, 2h 15m • as Self
In “Search for the Titanic”, Orson Welles takes viewers into a massive expedition attempting to locate the remains of the famous unsinkable ship at the bottom of the North Atlantic several years after its sinking on its maiden voyage in April 1912.
Movie - 1981, 2h 15m • as Self
Explorer Mike Harris leads a second North Atlantic expedition to locate the RMS Titanic, joined by television star James Drury, as the team uses improved technology to investigate promising sonar clues on the ocean floor following their earlier search.