Claudine Longet, the French-born singer and actress, has died at the age of 84. Known for her pop recordings on A&M Records and roles in 1960s television, Longet's life took a tragic turn in 1976 when she shot and killed her boyfriend, Olympic skier Spider Sabich. She claimed the .22-caliber gun discharged accidentally while he was showing her how it worked. The incident led to a high-profile trial in which she was convicted of criminally negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and sentenced to probation, a fine, and 30 days in jail.

Longet began her career as a child performer in Paris and later became a Las Vegas showgirl before rising to fame through appearances on 'The Andy Williams Show' and other TV series. She released her self-titled debut album in 1967, which sold over a million copies. She was married to Andy Williams from 1961 to 1975 and had three children with him. Her connection to the Kennedy family, close friends of hers and Williams, added to her public profile.

After the trial, Longet largely retreated from public life. The Sabich family filed a civil suit, settled out of court with the condition that she never speak publicly about Spider Sabich. She later married her defense attorney, Ronald Austin, and moved to Hawaii. Her legacy endures through her music and the complex narrative surrounding one of the most talked-about incidents of 1970s celebrity culture.