Claudine Longet, French Singer and Actress, Dies at 84

Claudine Longet, the French-American singer and actress, has passed away at the age of 84. Her nephew confirmed her death, remembering her "light, elegance, talent and kindness." While the exact cause remains unconfirmed, reports suggest she died peacefully of natural causes at her longtime home in Aspen, Colorado.

Longet had stepped away from the public eye for nearly five decades after a notorious trial in the 1970s. She was famously linked to the 1976 death of Olympic skier Spider Sabich, whom she fatally shot. Longet was convicted of criminally negligent homicide in 1988.

Following the trial, Longet retreated from Hollywood, settling in Aspen. She reportedly settled a civil lawsuit with the Sabich family privately, under a strict confidentiality agreement. She later married her former defense attorney, leading a private life away from public scrutiny.

Born in Paris in 1942, Longet began her career as a dancer before achieving success in music and television in the 1970s. Her notable works include albums like "Love Is Blue" and appearances on shows such as "Hogan's Heroes."