Actress and stuntwoman Susan Backlinie, who played the shark’s first victim in Jaws, has died.
Backlinie was 77 and died at home Saturday in Ventura, Calif., his publicist confirmed.
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His convention agent, Matthew Templeton, confirmed the news to The Daily Jaws.
“It is with deep sorrow that we confirm that our beloved Susan passed away this morning,” Templeton said.
“We would like to thank everyone for their condolences at this time.
“Please respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
The actress was best known for playing Chrissie Watkins in Steven Speilberg’s 1975 film Jaws.
She was 28 when the nationally ranked professional swimmer and diver played the skinny-dipping victim.
Backlinie worked with animals and water before being spotted for the film.
The stuntwoman was a mermaid at the Weekie Wachee Springs tourist attraction in Florida and had previously worked with several wild animals, including a tiger and a bear.
When planning her first film, Backlinie knew she could offer Spielberg something another actress couldn’t.
“If you use me, you can get close-ups during the scene. If you use an actress, she will have to hide her face,” Backlinie told the filmmaker.
Spielberg “performed stunts to find [the perfect stuntwoman] and Susan was up to the challenge”, said the filmmaker in the book Spielberg: The First Ten Years, by Laurent Bouzerau.
In a 2017 interview, Backlinie revealed what Spielberg told her before filming the iconic scene
“The first thing he said to me was, ‘When your scene is over, I want everyone under the seats with popcorn and gum,’” she said. Palm Beach Post.
Tributes appeared on social media for the actress and stuntwoman, with her role in Tubarão having great prominence.
“Susan was a kind and loving soul and will be greatly missed by the Jaws community,” said Jeffrey Kramer, fellow actor and star of Jaws.
“She has a special place in our hearts.”
“Rest in peace to Susan Backlinie, whose Chrissie Watkins in ‘Jaws’ experienced the most memorable leg pull in movie history,” said one fan he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“She has to go down in cinema history,” added another and one fan praised her “unbelievable work” that “made the whole world scared of the ocean.”
She has a special place in our hearts.
Jeffrey Kramer
Others called her a “scream queen legend” and a “class act.”
One man even said that her role contributed to his life’s work of tracking sharks.
“Susan will forever be remembered and immortalized as the first victim of the great white shark famous in Jaws,” the fan commented on the announcement of her death on The Daily Jaws.
“When I was 11, it sparked something in me when I became fascinated with GW sharks.
“Now aged 61, I have cage dived in South Africa and Australia recording over 29 different GW sharks, rip Susan, thanks Susan.”
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