Jaws actress Susan Backlinie has passed away at the age of 77.
The star, who was also a stuntwoman, played the role of the first victim in the 1975 Steven Spielberg film, her character Chrissie Watkins crossing paths with the shark after going for a late night swim during a beach party in the film’s opening scene.
The news of Backlinie’s death was confirmed by her husband Harvey Swindall, who told Fox News that she died from a heart attack and that her passing was “very unexpected”.
“[She] was the most amazing person I’ve ever met in my life. And I’ve never loved anybody like her,” he said.
Speaking back in 2015 about being cast in Jaws, Backlinie recalled to the Palm Beach Post: “The first thing [Spielberg] said to me was, ‘When your scene is done, I want everyone under the seats with the popcorn and bubblegum. So I think we did that.”
Spielberg also opened up in 2010 documentary Jaws: The Inside Story about how they managed to make the scene work.
“She was actually being tugged left and right by 10 men on one rope and 10 men on the other back to the shore, and that’s what caused her to move like that,” he explained.
As well as Jaws, Backlinie worked on the original TV series version of The Fall Guy, as well as The Grizzly And The Treasure and Day Of The Animals. She also parodied her Jaws appearance in Spielberg’s 1979 comedy 1941.
The news of her death has led to many tributes, with fansite The Jaws Daily writing on X (formerly Twitter): “We are deeply saddened to share the news that #JAWS star Susan Backlinie aka Chrissie Watkins passed away earlier today, aged 77. R.I.P. Susan. We’ll miss you.”
Many more have shared their tributes on social media, which you can read below:
SAD NEWS: We are deeply saddened to share the news that #JAWS star Susan Backlinie aka Chrissie Watkins passed away earlier today, aged 77.
R.I.P. Susan. We’ll miss you 💔🦈 #SheWasTheFirst pic.twitter.com/P67Dg16dLd
— The Daily Jaws (@thedailyjaws) May 11, 2024
I’m gonna imagine that Susan Backlinie and Roger Corman are going to team up and make a super-cheap horror-on-the-beach movie in the afterlife tonight. R.I.P. to the two of them, both iconic in their own very different ways.
— 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐳𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐚 (@Lauzirika) May 12, 2024
Rest in peace Susan Backlinie
You will remember her as the first girl who dies in Jaws. She was also a skilled stuntwoman and animal trainer. pic.twitter.com/bWaotytTzM
— Hollywood Horror Museum (@horrormuseum) May 12, 2024
Aw. R.I.P Susan Backlinie. She appeared in one of THE greatest opening scenes in a movie…EVER! pic.twitter.com/M7UyElrWqm
— Anthony N.Putson (@AnthonyPutson) May 13, 2024
SAD FAREWELL – Susan Backlinie
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 pic.twitter.com/ApzXVFHkTb— James L. Neibaur (@JimLNeibaur) May 12, 2024
