The actress and stunt woman Susan Backlinie, whose portrayal of a violent death as the first shark attack victim in the opening scene of the blockbuster movie “Jaws” terrified moviegoers, died on Saturday.
Ms. Backlinie died at her home in California, her agent, Sean Clark, said on Sunday.
“Jaws,” the 1975 movie directed by Steven Spielberg, memorably features Ms. Backlinie in a scene in which she played a skinny-dipper, Chrissie Watkins, who runs along the beach and dives into the water for a nighttime swim.
The placid scene is shattered as she is suddenly pulled under the water.
She screams while being violently thrashed by an unseen great white shark and tries desperately to cling to a clanging buoy only to be pulled below the water one final time.
Persons:
Susan Backlinie, Backlinie, Sean Clark, Steven Spielberg, Chrissie Watkins
Locations:
California