Controversial Singer-Actress Claudine Longet Dead at 84

Claudine Longet, the French singer and actress who remains tied to the fatal shooting of her Olympian boyfriend Spider Sabrich, has died at the age of 84, The Hollywood Reporter confirms.

The singer's death was reported this past Thursday by her nephew, Bryan Longet. As of yet, it's not clear what Longet's cause of death was attributed to.

Born in Paris, France on January 29, 1942, Longet managed to come into her element by the mid 1960s. While famously married to TV personality Andy Williams, Longet also became a well-known singer, allowing her to transition to a successful career in mainstream film.

Among other accomplishments, the artist starred alongside comedy legend Peter Sellers in 1968's The Party, combining her musical talents with her on-screen acting in a memorable rendition of the song, "Nothing to Lose."

Following her divorce from Williams in 1975, Longet began dating accomplished Olympic skier Spider Sabich. While living in his Starwood, Colorado residence, she wound up shooting Sabich in the abdomen with a .22-caliber gun purchased by the athlete's father. In her defense, Longet said the gun accidentally fired as Sabich instructed her how to use it.

Accompanying the severely wounded Sabich to the hospital in an ambulance, Longet was beside the skier when he died as a result of his wounds. At the time of his death, he was just 31-years-old.

Due to the nature of the athlete's death, Longet was charged with reckless manslaughter, thrusting her into a high-profile legal case that could have cost her 10 years in prison.

During the Aspen trial, her ex-husband Williams provided both emotional and legal support, accompanying her to the courtroom and testifying on her behalf.

Due to several logistical challenges (including mishandled evidence and an illegally performed search), the jury eventually found Longet guilty of criminally negligent homicide in January 1977. For this, she was sentenced with two years' probation, fined $250 and made to serve 30 days in jail.

Following the case, Sabich's surviving family filed a civil suit against Longet for $1.3 million. The case was later settled out of court. Following this, Longet retreated from the public spotlight, never releasing another album or starring in another TV show or film throughout the remainder of her life.

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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 9:06 AM.