- Born
- Birth nameClaudine Georgette Longet
- Height5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
- Claudine Georgette Longet was born in Paris, France on January 29, 1942. Although known as an actress and singer, her career still is overshadowed by being known as a former wife of Andy Williams as well as shooting boyfriend, ski legend Spider Sabich in 1976. After a number of roles in episodes of high profile TV programs such as Combat! (1962), Hogan's Heroes (1965), Dr. Kildare (1961), Mr. Novak (1963), and 12 O'Clock High (1964), Claudine landed the role of Michele Monet in the Blake Edwards film The Party (1968). As a recording artist, Claudine was signed by Herb Alpert's A&M Records. She released a string of albums in the late 60s ("Claudine", "The Look of Love", "Love is Blue", "Colours", and "Run Wild, Run Free") covering songs from the Bee Gees and Donovan among others. She had four hits reach the US top 100 singles chart including "Love is Blue" and "Hello Hello". After switching to the Barnaby label, she released another two albums, "We've Only Just Begun" and "Let's Spend the Night Together". A third album, "Sugar Me", recorded in 1974, had to wait almost 20 years before it was finally released. Standout songs included the title track, a cover of the Lynsey de Paul hit, as well as "Guess Who I Saw in Paris" by Buffy Sainte-Marie.- IMDb Mini Biography By: L. Haun
- SpousesRonald Duane Austin(June 1, 1985 - present)Andy Williams(December 15, 1961 - February 7, 1975) (divorced, 3 children)
- Fatally shot her boyfriend, Olympic skier Spider Sabich, on 3/21/76 at his Aspen, CO, home after he had reportedly told her to move out because she and her three children were "cramping" his lifestyle. At the sensational trial that followed, Longet claimed the gun had discharged accidentally as Sabich was showing her how it worked. However, ballistics showed that the gun's trigger had been pulled more than once. She was convicted of criminal negligence and sentenced to 30 days in jail, which she served following a vacation with her defense attorney, Ron Austin, whom she later married. In 1978 she signed a confidentiality agreement with Sabich's parents after they agreed to drop a $1.3-million civil suit against her. She lives in Aspen as of this writing.
- In 1960 she was the lead dancer of the Folies Bergere revue at the Tropicana Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
- Three children by singer Andy Williams: daughter Noelle Williams, sons Christian Williams and Bobby Williams, who was named for Robert F. Kennedy, a good friend of the Williamses.
- The Rolling Stones wrote and recorded a song, "Claudine", about her murder trial and acquittal. The widely bootlegged song was unreleased due to fears of possible litigation, but now exists on the bonus CD for the reissue of their album Some Girls.
- After she shot and killed ski champion Spider Sabich, the original Saturday Night Live cast had a short film/skit with footage of actual skiers falling/wiping out following the sound of an added off-screen gunshot: all taking place in the fictional "Claudine Longet Ski Championship".
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