ACTOR · BORN 1946 · DIED 2024

Susan Backlinie

Born

1 September 1946

Died

11 May 2024

10 archived facts · 3 topics · 1 source · Last reviewed Sep 2026

8 Interesting Facts About Susan Backlinie

1. #001

   Susan Backlinie was a former stuntwoman who specialized in swimming work.

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   1. IMDb — IMDb

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2. #002

   Susan Backlinie is the swimmer in the opening scene of Jaws (1975), playing the shark's first victim. She later recreated that scene in Spielberg's 1941 (1979), but instead of a toothy fish she encountered a Japanese submarine.

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   1. IMDb — IMDb

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3. #003

   She is a former wild animal trainer and sports diver.

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4. #004

   According to a tweet by Peter Mayhew, she owned and trained a bear whose growls were later recorded to be used as Chewbacca's voice.

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   1. IMDb — IMDb

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5. #005

   She appeared in her own pictures ("The Lady and the Lion") in the January 1973 issue of Penthouse magazine.

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   1. IMDb — IMDb

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6. #006

   She is a computer accountant in Ventura, California.

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7. #009

   She appeared in her own photo ("The Lady and the Lion") in the January 1973 issue of Penthouse.

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8. #010

   She also appeared nude in the February 1977 issue of Mayfair ("Susan Backlinie - The nude from Jaws", volume 12, issue 2, pages 40-43).

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   1. IMDb — IMDb

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