Susan Backlinie: The Woman Who Became Jaws’ First Victim
Susan Backlinie, the stuntperson and actress who portrayed the iconic first victim of the shark in Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, has passed away at the age of 77.
Born on September 1, 1946, Backlinie was a nationally ranked swimmer and professional diver. She had already made a name for herself as a mermaid performer and animal trainer before landing her breakthrough role in Universal’s Jaws in 1975.
Director Steven Spielberg specifically wanted a stuntperson for the role. In Laurent Bouzereau’s book, Spielberg: The First Ten Years, he explains, “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.”
Backlinie worked on the intense skinny-dipping scene for three days on location in Martha’s Vineyard.