AceShowbiz - Claudine Longet, the French-born singer and actress whose life was marked by both artistic achievement and a notorious legal case, has passed away at the age of 84. Her nephew Bryan Longet confirmed her death to the Associated Press, expressing his admiration and gratitude for his aunt’s influence in his life.

Born in Paris in 1942, Longet moved to the United States where she built her career in the 1960s as a singer and occasional actress. She gained popularity through frequent appearances on The Andy Williams Show, eventually marrying the show’s star, Andy Williams. She also appeared in the 1968 comedy The Party, which starred Peter Sellers and later inspired Mike Myers’s film The Love Guru.

Despite her entertainment career, Longet is perhaps most famously linked to a tragic event from 1976 involving the death of her boyfriend, Olympic skier Vladimir "Spider" Sabich. On March 21, 1976, she shot Sabich at their home in Aspen. Longet claimed the gun discharged accidentally while Sabich was instructing her on firearm use, but prosecutors argued the shooting was deliberate.

She faced charges of reckless manslaughter, with her defense funded by her ex-husband Andy Williams, who accompanied her daily to court. The trial was marked by police mishandling of evidence, and ultimately, Longet received a sentence of 30 days in jail. She was allowed to serve the time on selected days, mainly on weekends. This unusual aspect inspired The Rolling Stones to write the song "Claudine," featured in the deluxe edition of their album Some Girls.

Following the trial, Longet married one of her defense attorneys, Ronald D. Austin, with whom she lived quietly until her death. Her music continued to resonate culturally, with her rendition of the Beach Boys’ "God Only Knows" appearing on the soundtrack of the TV series Gilmore Girls. Additionally, her work has been featured in films such as Pineapple Express and The Politician.

Longet’s legacy remains a complex blend of artistic talent and a high-profile true crime case that captivated the public’s attention for decades.