Stuntwoman Susan Backlinie has sadly died at the age of 77, with her heartbroken husband now revealing her cause of death.
The actress, who starred as the first victim in the hit film Jaws, died at her home in Ventura, California, on Saturday morning. Her death was announced by her agent Matthew Templeton, with her husband Harvey Swindall now sharing an update with fans.
Susan died after suffering a heart attack, Harvey has announced as he paid tribute to his wife. He said she was "the most amazing person" he had ever met.
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Susan Backlinie starred as the first victim in Jaws (Penske Media via Getty Images)
She was 77 years old when she died (WireImage)Speaking to TMZ, Harvey said he'll miss his wife "very much". Fans have also been paying tribute on X, formerly known as Twitter, with one person writing: "Aw. R.I.P Susan Backlinie. She appeared in one of THE greatest opening scenes in a movie...EVER!"
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Another wrote: "Sincerest condolences to her family. Will treasure my Jaws poster & album she signed even more," while a third fan added: "Whoa! Vivid childhood memories of this scene/actress. A stunning and iconic figure."
Susan was just 28 when she took on the memorable role of Chrissie in Jaws. Prior to her work as an actress and stuntwoman, she worked with animals and even performed as a mermaid.
Jaws' director Steven Spielberg previously opened up about why he chose Susan for the part, telling Laurent Bouzereau for his 2023 book Spielberg: The First Ten Years that it was because she was "up to the challenge." He explained, "I didn't want an actor to do it."
Susan previously spoke about her role in JawsHe added: "I wanted a stuntperson because I needed somebody who was great in the water, who knew water ballet and knew how to endure what I imagined was going to be a whole lot of violent shaking. So, I went to stunts to find her, and Susan was up to the challenge."
In previous interviews, Susan recalled her experience working with the iconic director. Speaking to the Palm Beach Post in 2017, she said: "The first thing Spielberg said to me was, 'When your scene is done, I want everyone under the seats with the popcorn and bubblegum'."
Fast forwarding to 2023, Susan disclosed how exhausting the filming schedule for some of the key scenes was - confessing she spent up to 14 hours per day over three days in Martha's Vineyard shooting underwater scenes: "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."
She shared a clever tactic she used to get her role in Jaws, stating: "If you use me, you could get close-ups during the stunt itself. If you use an actress, she'll have to hide her face.'" In the 2010 documentary, Jaws: The Inside Story, she delved deeper into how she brought her character to life, saying: "As I would feel my hips go to one side, I would just throw my arms in the opposite direction as hard as I could."
She added: "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. It took a lot of energy, but I was in pretty good shape back then." Susan lived on a houseboat in Ventura, sharing her home with her husband Harvey.
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