Claudine Longet, the French-born singer and actress whose 1976 fatal shooting of her boyfriend sparked one of the most controversial trials of the 20th century, has died at the age of 84, leaving behind a legacy forever tainted by a single, deadly moment in an Aspen bathroom.
Longet passed away on May 14, 2026, in Hawaii, where she had lived quietly with her second husband, attorney Ron Austin, after selling their Colorado property for nearly $60 million in 2023. Her death closes a chapter on a story that captivated and outraged America for decades.
The saga began on March 21, 1976, when Olympic skier Vladimir “Spider” Savage was shot once in the abdomen in Longet’s Aspen home. Savage, a former U. S.
Olympic team member and one of America’s most eligible bachelors, died from blood loss in the ambulance, with Longet by his side.
Longet claimed the shooting was an accident, saying Savage was showing her how to use the pistol while preparing to shower. But the autopsy told a different story: Savage was standing nearly two meters away, bent over, with his back to her when the gun fired.
Police charged Longet with manslaughter, but the case quickly became a spectacle. Her ex-husband, legendary singer Andy Williams, flew to Aspen to support her and pay for her legal defense. Williams had been married to Longet from 1961 until their separation in 1970, and they remained close for the sake of their three children.
The trial exposed glaring police errors. Authorities took a blood sample from Longet without a warrant, revealing cocaine in her system. They also seized her diary, which contradicted her claim of a happy relationship with Savage.
Both pieces of evidence were thrown out.
Even the murder weapon was mishandled. An inexperienced officer wrapped the pistol in a towel, stored it in his glove compartment, and left it there for weeks, compromising any forensic value. The prosecution’s case crumbled.
After just four hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict that shocked the nation. Longet was found guilty only of misdemeanor negligence. The judge sentenced her to 30 days in jail, which she could serve on weekends.
She also paid a fine of just $250.
But before she even finished serving that paltry sentence, Longet fled to Mexico with her lawyer, Ron Austin, who left his wife and family to be with her. The move ignited fury, especially from Savage’s family, who had already been devastated by the lenient outcome.
The Savage family filed a civil lawsuit, which was settled out of court. The terms remain sealed, but the agreement reportedly bars Longet from ever discussing the shooting or the settlement. The criminal case was closed, but public outrage never fully subsided.
Longet’s life before the shooting was one of glamour and rising fame. Born in Paris in 1942, she began dancing for tourists as a teenager and was soon discovered by nightclub promoter Lou Walters, who brought her to Las Vegas to perform at the Tropicana’s Folies Bergère.
It was in Las Vegas that she met Andy Williams, who stopped to help her with a car problem. They married in 1961, and Williams’ career skyrocketed after he sang “Moon River” at the 1962 Academy Awards. Longet appeared on his TV show and pursued acting, landing roles in “McHale’s Navy” and other series.
Her singing career took off after a guest spot on “Run for Your Life” caught the attention of Herb Alpert, co-founder of A&M Records. She signed a contract and released hit songs, while also starring alongside Peter Sellers in the cult classic film “The Party.”
Longet and Williams were close friends with Senator Robert F. Kennedy and his wife Ethel. On June 4, 1968, they were in a suite at the Ambassador Hotel when Kennedy was assassinated.
Longet and Williams rushed to the hospital, but Kennedy died. They later named their third son Robert in his honor.
By 1970, Longet’s marriage to Williams was falling apart. They separated amicably, and she moved to Aspen with her three children to live with Spider Savage. But reports soon emerged that Savage was considering ending the relationship, and Longet’s diary revealed the relationship was deteriorating.
The Rolling Stones immortalized Longet’s infamy. Her photo appeared on the cover of their 1978 album “Some Girls,” alongside other infamous women. Their next album included a song titled “Claudine” with lyrics about shooting a man in the head, but lawyers forced its removal.
It was finally released on a 2008 reissue.
After the trial, Longet married Ron Austin in 1985, and they remained in Aspen despite local suspicion. In 2023, they sold their property and moved to Hawaii, where they lived quietly until her death. The prosecutor on her case, Frank Tucker, famously said, “When a celebrity walks into court through the front door, justice walks out the back.”
Longet’s obituaries are dominated by the shooting, overshadowing her career achievements and her years with Andy Williams. She is survived by her three children and her husband, Ron Austin. The full story of what happened in that Aspen bathroom remains a mystery, sealed by a settlement and a lifetime of silence.
