NEW YORK (AP) – Claudine Longet, the French singer and actress, has died at the age of 84. Longet was notably recognized for her involvement in a highly publicized manslaughter trial in the 1970s, stemming from the fatal shooting of her boyfriend, Olympic skier Vladimir “Spider” Sabich. Her nephew, Bryan Longet, announced her passing in a social media post, expressing his admiration and gratitude toward her, declaring her a "true inspiration." He confirmed her death to The Associated Press but did not disclose the cause.
Born in Paris, Longet began her acting career in childhood, appearing in various television shows and recording successful albums, including "Claudine." She gained fame for her bossa nova rendition of "Nothing to Lose," featured in the 1968 film "The Party," which starred Longet alongside Peter Sellers. During this productive period in her career, Longet was married to singer Andy Williams. The couple had met while she was performing in a Las Vegas revue in the early 1960s. By the mid-1970s, however, Longet and Williams had divorced, and she was living with Sabich near Aspen, Colorado.
The tragic incident that altered the course of her life occurred on March 21, 1976. Longet shot Sabich in their home with a Luger pistol, which she claimed he had been displaying and that the shot was accidental. Sabich, aged 31, succumbed to a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. Following the shooting, Longet accompanied him in the ambulance to the hospital, where he later died.
The ensuing trial drew significant media attention. Notably, Andy Williams lent his support to Longet during this turbulent time, attending court proceedings and covering her legal expenses. Williams described his belief in her innocence, asserting that the shooting was an accident during a 2009 interview with "CBS This Morning."
Charged with reckless manslaughter, Longet's case encountered procedural issues, including the collection of blood evidence without a warrant. After four days of jury deliberation in January 1977, she was found guilty of negligent homicide. The court sentenced her to two years of probation, imposed a fine of $250, and mandated 30 days of jail time, which she was able to serve on days of her choosing.
As a result of the trial's fallout, Longet's entertainment career effectively stalled, and she became a target of parody in popular culture, most notably referenced in a skit on "Saturday Night Live" and in a Rolling Stones song titled "Claudine," which included ridicule of her legal troubles. Following the incident, she married her defense attorney, Ron Austin, and moved with him to Aspen. In 1977, the family of Vladimir Sabich filed a $1.3 million civil lawsuit against Longet, which ultimately resulted in a settlement that included restrictions on her from publicly discussing Sabich or the details of the trial.
Claudine Longet’s legacy remains complex, entwining elements of both her artistic contributions and the impactful tragedy of her personal life, a narrative that continues to resonate due to its dramatic and emotional depth.
