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Susan Backlinie, finest often known as the primary sufferer within the 1975 movie “Jaws,” has died, Fox Information Digital can affirm.
Her husband of 30 years, Harvey Swindall, stated her demise was ‘very sudden’. She died of a coronary heart assault at their house in California on Saturday morning. She was 77.
“(She) was essentially the most wonderful individual I’ve ever met in my life. And I’ve by no means cherished anybody like her,” Swindall stated.
Susan Backlinie, often known as the primary sufferer in “Jaws,” died at her house Saturday morning. (Everett Assortment)
Backlinie earned the position of Chrissie in Steven Spielberg’s movie not solely due to her enviable appears to be like, but in addition as a result of she was a nationally ranked swimmer who had labored as a mermaid and animal coach after graduating from highschool in 1964.
“I did not need an actor to do it. I wished a stuntman as a result of I wanted somebody who was nice within the water, who knew water ballet and knew easy methods to endure what I believed could be lots of violent vibrations.” Spielberg shared in Laurent Bouzereau’s ebook, “Spielberg: The First Ten Years,” in line with The Hollywood Reporter, “So I set out on stunts to search out her, and Susan was as much as the problem.”
Susan Backlinie, pictured on the set of the film “Jaws,” was employed due to her earlier swimming expertise. (Getty Photos)
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In an interview with The Palm Seaside Publish in 2017, Backlinie spoke about Spielberg’s tackle what has now develop into an iconic scene. “The very first thing Spielberg stated to me was, ‘When your scene is completed, I would like everybody below the seats with popcorn and bubble gum,’” she stated. “So I feel we did that.”
Susan Backlinie was employed for the position partially due to her robust swimming expertise. (Bobby Financial institution/Getty Photos)
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Whereas showing on the present “The Morning X with Barnes & Leslie” final 12 months, Backlinie described in her personal phrases how they captured that second within the water.
“What they did was there have been some poles about 50 yards away on the seashore and so they in two groups ran cables all the way in which from the seashore to the poles, after which they put me between the 2 poles and so they had males on the seashore, about 5 or 6 on every cable,” she defined. “We marked strains on the seashore and so they pulled me on both facet to the sting of the body. And the boys simply ran forwards and backwards from mark to mark,” she stated of the Martha’s Winery set.
Backlinie additionally refuted the rumor that she broke a rib throughout filming, however admitted it was an especially grueling course of. “We filmed from 6 to 7 within the morning till 9 o’clock due to the lighting… I used to be house on the finish of the day and exhausted.”
Susan Backlinie attended the 2023 Chiller Theater Expo in New Jersey. (Bobby Financial institution/Getty Photos)
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Backlinie appeared in a handful of movies, typically as a stunt performer. She was additionally on quite a few tv exhibits.
Caroline Thayer is an leisure author for Fox Information Digital. Observe Caroline Thayer on Twitter at @carolinejthayer. Story suggestions could be despatched to caroline.thayer@fox.com.
