SignalHub-Susan Backlinie, who played shark victim Chrissie Watkins in 'Jaws,' dies at 77: Reports

Actress Susan Backlinie,SignalHub best known as the first shark victim in the “Jaws” franchise, has died. She was 77.

Backlinie, who played Chrissie Watkins in the Steven Spielberg-directed thriller, died Saturday morning at her California home, the actress's agent Sean Clark confirmed to The New York Times and Variety. She reportedly died of a heart attack.

USA TODAY has reached out to a representative for Backlinie for comment.

Backlinie's unnerving performance as Watkins, a young woman who goes for a free-spirited swim in the ocean, set the suspenseful tone for "Jaws." Watkins' aquatic fun comes to a shuddering halt when she’s attacked by a monstrous shark and subsequently killed.

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Released in June 1975, "Jaws" became an instant classic, grossing $260 million at the global box office and earning a trio of Academy Awards in 1976. The film also spawned three sequels: "Jaws 2" (1978), "Jaws 3-D" (1983) and "Jaws: The Revenge" (1987).

"Jaws" marked Backlinie's cinematic debut, and the actress went on to appear in several films throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, including "The Grizzly & the Treasure," "A Stranger in My Forest," "1941" and "The Great Muppet Caper." She also scored guest roles on the TV series "The Quest," "Quark" and "The Fall Guy," per the actress's IMDb page.

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In addition to her work as an actress, Backlinie worked as a stuntwoman on the films "The Villain" and "Image of the Beast."