Claudine Longet biography

Synopsis

Claudine Longet enjoyed a lucrative singing career, recording seven albums from 1966 to 1972. Her single 'Wanderlove' was particularly popular in Singapore. Longet parlayed her popularity as a singer into an acting career, appearing on such television series as McHale’s Navy and on variety specials. Longet began an affair with an Olympic skier and on March 21, 1976, was charged with his murder.

Profile

Singer, murderer. Born Claudine Georgette Longet on January 29, 1942 in Paris, France. Claudine Longet enjoyed a lucrative singing career, recording seven albums between 1966 and 1972. More famous in Asian markets, her single 'Wanderlove' was particularly popular in Singapore. Longet parlayed her popularity as a singer into an acting career, appearing on such television series as McHale's Navy and on variety specials.

While performing as a dancer at the Folies Bergere in Las Vegas, Longet met singer Andy Williams. They married on Christmas Day in 1961 and had three children. They separated in 1969 and divorced in 1975. Following the separation, Longet began an affair with Olympic skier Vladimir "Spider" Sabich. Sabich was a notorious bachelor and their relationship was rumored to be tempestuous, particularly after Longet moved into his Aspen, Colorado, home. On March 21, 1976, Claudine Longet was charged with his murder.

Longet claimed that the shooting was an accident, and her ex-husband Andy Williams supported her throughout the trial. Due to a series of blunders by the Aspen police, the jury acquitted her of felony manslaughter and convicted her instead of criminal negligence and sentenced her to pay a small fine and spend 30 days in jail.

Spider Sabich's family initiated a civil suit against Longet, and it was settled out of court for a large sum on the condition that Longet never tell or write about her story. After the trial was over, Longet began an affair with her married defense attorney Ron Austin, whom she later wed. They currently live together in Aspen.