Susan Backlinie, the first victim of the iconic Jaws movie, has died, with her devastated husband paying tribute to the star.
The movie star, who played Chrissie Watkins in the Steven Spielberg flick, passed away on Saturday morning at her home in California. Her agent confirmed the sad news, with her heartbroken husband revealing she died following a heart attack. The 77-year-old featured in the opening sequence of the Hollywood blockbuster, where Chrissie is running along the beach in the morning before deciding to skinny-dip in the water. Although, she has no idea what teeth are lurking beneath the water and is violently attacked by the infamous great white shark.
Jaws star Susan Backlinie passes away
Backlinie, who passed away at her home in Ventura, with her husband Harvey Swindall saying she was the ‘most amazing person’ he’d ever met.
The celebrity‘s death has led to tributes on social media for Susan Backlinie, who teamed up with Spielberg years later to spoof her Jaws character.
She was 28 years old when she took on the role, working as an actress and stuntwoman beforehand. A champion swimmer, she worked with animals and even performed as a mermaid at one point.
The director previously spoke on why he chose Susan, explaining he ‘didn’t want an actor to do it’ and instead someone who was ‘up to the challenge’.
Spielberg also told the documentary, Jaws: The Inside Story, it was ‘one of the most dangerous stunts’ he’s ever directed. Susan was in the water with 10 men below, attached to ropes, pulling her in all directions to re-enact the violent attack of a great white shark.
‘Exhausting scenes’
Last year, Susan Backlinie explained the tiring schedule for the Jaws scene that opens the movie.
The crew were on set for up to 14 hours a day over a three-day period, in Martha’s Vineyard, to get the perfect scenes.
She said: “We would film anywhere from 6 or 7 in the morning until 9, because of the light. I’ll tell you, I was exhausted at the end of the day.”
At the time, Spielberg’s ‘first thing’ he said to her was: “When your scene is done, I want everyone under the seats with the popcorn and bubblegum’. I think we did it”.
She also revealed a behind-the-scenes secret, explaining she wore fins as the ropes would pull her underwater too much.
“I also had a pair of fins on because when they would pull me to one side, I would go under, so I had to kick with all my strength to stay above the water,” Susan said. “It took a lot of energy, but I was in pretty good shape back then.”
Tributes pour in for the star
Tributes from film fans have stormed social media, especially X (Twitter).
One wrote: “Susan’s frightening opening to the movie JAWS as the shark’s first victim is a truly iconic, unforgettable scene. I just read that Susan died this morning at the age of 77. RIP.”
A second said: “Rest in peace, Susan Backlinie, the stuntwoman who played Chrissie in Jaws, did an unbelievable job, and made the entire world afraid of the ocean.
A third penned: “You will remember her as the first girl who dies in Jaws. She was also a skilled stuntwoman and animal trainer.”
While a fourth added: “Best known for delivering arguably the greatest, most terrifying and iconic death scene in movie history.”
The post Actress from Hollywood's 'most unforgettable scene' dies - 'The greatest in movie history' appeared first on Celebrity Tidbit.
