There’s a Jaws marathon on television today and it’s hard to watch the first film without remembering “the bitch slap heard around the world.” Such a classic movie, I’m sure all parties involved went on to have somewhat decent careers, right?
Lee Fierro was born in February of 1929. At the age of 45 she booked the role of “Mrs. Kintner” in Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. In the movie, her son is the second victim of the villainous shark, having been gobbled up in broad daylight. Mrs. Kintner later places a bounty on the head of a shark, causing a massive hunting frenzy, but not before slapping Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) across the face for allowing people in the water despite knowing a killer shark was on the loose. Jaws went on to become one of the highest grossing movies of all time with $471,000,000 ($1,040,000,000 if adjusted for inflation) made in ticket sales, and it also went on to win three Oscars in 1976.
Lee Fierro returned for the fourth and final movie, Jaws: The Revenge, in 1987 when she reprised the role of Mrs. Kintner. Only appearing in a cameo performance, Mrs. Kintner is one of several guests offering their condolences at the Brody residence after Sean’s (Mitchell Anderson) is killed a massive great white shark. Jaws: The Revenge is a frequent participant on many “Worst Films of All Time” lists and barely grossed $20,000,000 ($43,000,000 if adjusted for inflation) in ticket sales in America. Never to shy away from her claim to fame, Lee also appeared in documentaries on the franchise with The Shark is Still Working (2007) and Jaws: The Inside Story (2010).
So, where is Lee Fierro now?
Well, she’s still slapping… at least she was until 2012. Apparently fans who approach her out in public or at conventions always ask her to give them a little palm across the face, and Lee was happy to oblige until she retired the gesture in 2012. Although Jaws and Jaws: The Revenge make up half of Lee’s Hollywood resume, she’s stayed busy over the years by teaching dance and drama at schools and universities in the area. She was and still is a resident of Martha’s Vineyard, which was transformed into Amity Island during the time Jaws was filmed. And she still has ties to the community and the entertainment industry as she is currently the artist director of the Island Theatre Workshop located there.
Earlier this year, at age 86, she got back in the saddle and impressively booked the female lead of “Priscilla Goodrich” in drama The Mistover Tale and the supporting role of “Netty” in thriller Off Season.
