Gina Heslop
Susan Backlinie, an actress and stuntwoman best known for her iconic role in the movie Jaws, has passed away at the age of 77. Susan died peacefully at her home in Ventura, California, on Saturday, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered by many. The news of her passing was confirmed by her convention agent, Matthew Templeton, who expressed the deep sorrow felt by those close to her. He shared that Susan was beloved by many and asked for privacy for her family during this difficult time.
Susan Backlinie gained fame for her portrayal of Chrissie Watkins, the first victim of the menacing great white shark in Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster Jaws. At the time she was cast in this role, Susan was just 28 years old. She was a nationally ranked swimmer and a professional diver, which made her uniquely qualified for the part. Her performance in the opening scene of the film, where she plays a young woman who is attacked by a shark while skinny-dipping, remains one of the most memorable and terrifying moments in cinema history.
Before landing her role in Jaws, Susan had an interesting career working with animals and water. She was employed as a mermaid at Weeki Wachee Springs, a famous tourist attraction in Florida. There, she honed her skills in performing underwater, a talent that later proved invaluable in her acting career. In addition to her work as a mermaid, Susan also worked with various wild animals, including a tiger and a bear. This experience with animals and her expertise in water stunts made her a natural choice for Spielberg when he was casting for Jaws.
Steven Spielberg himself recognized Susan’s unique abilities and sought her out for the role. In his book Spielberg: The First Ten Years, written by Laurent Bouzerau, Spielberg recalled how Susan was the perfect fit for the stunt work required in the film. He wanted an actress who could perform the stunts without needing a double, ensuring that the fear and terror on her face were as real as possible. Susan delivered exactly that, making the scene so intense that Spielberg hoped it would send audiences “under their seats with the popcorn and the bubblegum,” as he told Susan before filming the scene.
Susan’s role in Jaws left a lasting impact on the film industry and on fans around the world. Many people took to social media to pay tribute to her after learning of her passing. Jeffrey Kramer, who also appeared in Jaws, spoke fondly of Susan, describing her as a loving and kind person who will be deeply missed by the Jaws community. Fans also shared their memories, with one person on X (formerly Twitter) calling her the actress responsible for the “most memorable tug on the leg in movie history.” Others praised her as a “scream queen legend” and a “class act,” acknowledging the profound influence her performance had on audiences.
One fan even credited Susan’s role in Jaws with inspiring his lifelong passion for studying great white sharks. This fan, who first saw Jaws as an 11-year-old, went on to become an avid shark enthusiast, even participating in cage diving expeditions in South Africa and Australia to study these creatures.
He expressed his gratitude to Susan for sparking this interest and said that she will be forever remembered as the first victim of the great white shark that terrified moviegoers around the world.
Susan Backlinie may have passed away, but her legacy will live on through her unforgettable performance in Jaws. She will always be remembered for her contribution to one of the most iconic scenes in film history, a scene that continues to captivate and frighten audiences nearly 50 years later.
