The Former Singer Once Charged in Her Olympian Boyfriend’s Death Has Died

Before her name became tied to one of the most shocking celebrity scandals of the 1970s, Claudine Longet was a singer, actress, and regular presence on television. After being charged in the shooting death of Olympic skier Vladimir “Spider” Sabich, her life changed forever.

Longet, who spent her later years out of the spotlight, has died at the age of 84, according to Variety.

Many people remembered Longet not only as Andy Williams‘ former wife, but also for the highly publicized case involving Sabich’s 1976 death. It transformed Longet from a successful singer and television personality into one of the most controversial celebrity figures of the 1970s.

She married Williams in 1961, and they had three children together before divorcing in 1975. It was shortly after her divorce that Longet became involved with Sabich. They initially met at a celebrity skiing event in 1972.

The shooting happened on March 21, 1976, in a bathroom at Sabich’s cabin. Longet claimed that she asked Sabich to show her how to use the .22-caliber gun, and it accidentally discharged. He died as he was being transported to the hospital.

Longet was charged with reckless manslaughter and went to trial. However, Variety noted that issues related to an illegal search and mishandled evidence made for a difficult case for prosecutors. She was ultimately convicted of misdemeanor criminally negligent homicide.

Although Longet received a minimal sentence for her conviction, serving just 30 days, her career never recovered. The scandal effectively ended her time in the public eye.

In addition, Sabich’s family sued her in civil court. They settled out of court, with Longet paying the family $1.3 million. Part of the deal was that she could not speak about her relationship with Sabich or his death.

Later, Longet married Ronald Austin, who had served as one of her defense attorneys.

Before she became infamous for the death of her boyfriend, Longet appeared on shows such as The Andy Williams Show, McHale’s Navy, and Hogan’s Heroes. She released her first, self-titled album in 1967, which sold more than a million copies.

The Los Angeles Times shared that the scandal over Sabich’s death and Longet’s involvement created international headlines. The Rolling Stones’ song “Claudine” was about Longet, and Saturday Night Live aired a sketch about the incident.

Though Longet largely disappeared from public life after the case, the controversy surrounding Sabich’s death remained one of the most talked-about celebrity scandals of the 1970s. For many, her death closes the chapter on a story that fascinated the public for decades.