Susan Backlinie Dead: ‘Jaws’ Actor Was 77

Susan Backlinie, who performed the primary shark assault sufferer in Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws,” has died. She was 77.

Backlinie died Saturday morning at her California residence as a consequence of a coronary heart assault, Conference All Stars proprietor Sean Clark confirmed to Selection. The previous actor and stuntwoman was one of many firm’s shoppers.

Backlinie was finest recognized for her position as Chrissie Watkins in “Jaws,” who’s dragged to her demise by a killer shark within the 1975 movie’s iconic opening scene. Backlinie specialised in swimming work as a stunt performer.

Opposite to widespread perception, Backlinie’s screams of anguish within the “Jaws” opening scene weren’t as a consequence of her being injured by the harness that jerked her forwards and backwards. Nevertheless, nobody warned Backlinie when she can be pulled underwater to be able to get a real response from her.

Selection‘s “Jaws” evaluation stated of the shark assault sequences: “The fast-moving 124-minute movie engenders monumental suspense because the shark assaults a succession of individuals; the creature shouldn’t be even seen for about 82 minutes, and a subjective digicam method makes his earlier forays excruciatingly terrifying all of the extra for the invisibility.”

Backlinie was born on Sept. 1, 1946. Other than her work as an actor and stunt performer, Backlinie was additionally a former animal coach. After she retired from appearing, Backlinie labored as a pc accountant in Ventura, Calif.

Backlinie appeared in a handful of flicks up till the early Nineteen Eighties, most notably the Jim Henson-directed movie “The Nice Muppet Caper” (1981) and Spielberg’s “1941″ (1979). She appeared within the “Jaws” parody scene in “1941,” the place she encounters a Japanese submarine as a substitute of an excellent white shark.

Backlinie additionally appeared in a number of tv collection, together with “The Quest,” “Quark” and “The Fall Man.” Different movie credit embody “The Grizzly & the Treasure” (1975), “A Stranger in My Forest” (1976) and “Day of the Animals” (1977).

Backlinie is survived by her husband, Harvey Swindall.