Susan Backlinie Jaws Death : Susan Backlinie Obituary - Famous Actress Chrissie Watkins Has Passed Away

Susan Jane Backlinie, former  actress and stuntwoman best known for her portrayal of Chrissie Watkins, the first victim of the shark in Steven Spielberg's hit movie Jaws (1975) has passed away. She died on Saturday 11th May 2024 at the age of 77.

In addition to her work as a stuntwoman, specializing in swimming scenes, she also worked as an animal trainer. Currently, she resides in Ventura, California, where she works as a computer accountant.

Backlinie's role in Jaws required three days of shooting. She was strapped into a harness while the crew worked to achieve the desired effects. Despite rumors, her startled reaction and screams were not due to injury from the harness.

Instead, she was attached to a line anchored to the ocean floor, and she was intentionally not informed when she would be pulled underwater, adding to the authenticity of her performance. Richard Dreyfuss, her co-star in Jaws, was genuinely terrified by her performance when he saw it in the daily footage.

She also made an appearance in Spielberg's film 1941, parodying her role in Jaws. Instead of being attacked by a shark, her character is "picked up" by the periscope of a Japanese submarine. This scene is often considered the best joke in an otherwise less successful film by Spielberg.

Additionally, Backlinie appeared in the 1977 film Day of the Animals, which some consider to be a Jaws-inspired movie about nature gone wrong.