Lee Fierro

Elizabeth Lee Fierro (February 13, 1929 – April 5, 2020)[2] was an American actress and theater promoter best known for playing Mrs. Kintner in the Jaws film franchise.

Lee Fierro
Born
Elizabeth Lee Fierro

(1929-02-13)February 13, 1929
New York City, U.S.
DiedApril 5, 2020(2020-04-05) (aged 91)
Aurora, Ohio, U.S.[1]
OccupationActress
Years active1975–2016
Known forRoles in Jaws

Career

Fierro acted in a famous scene in the 1975 film Jaws, in which she (as Mrs. Kintner) slapped the police chief. The scene required several takes.[3][4]: 60  Fierro recalled slapping the actor playing the police chief (Roy Scheider) 17 times, saying "I slapped him hard with a loose wrist, which was what I was taught in acting school."[5] Fierro reportedly had also "objected to the profanity" of the scene's dialogue as originally drafted, and the director, Steven Spielberg, wanted dialogue that accorded with Fierro's "everywoman looks," so the scene's dialogue was rewritten the day before it was filmed.[6]: 232 

Fierro lived for many years on Martha's Vineyard, where from 1974 to 2017 she was artistic director of the Island Theatre Workshop and mentored hundreds of aspiring actors.[7][8] Kevin Ryan, the Theater's board president in 2020, who had worked with her for 30 years,[1] estimated that Fierro had mentored and taught theater to more than 1,000 children, and recalled Fierro as "fiercely dedicated to the mission of teaching. She, no matter what it was, would stay at it and get the job done."[9]

In 2013, Fierro received a "Woman of the Year" award by Women Empowered to Make Healthy Choices for her local theater workshop.[10]

Personal life and death

Fierro had training as an actress in theater but not as a screen actress.[9] In her personal life Fierro had five children.[1]

In mid-2017, Fierro moved to Aurora, Ohio, to an assisted living facility, to be closer to her family.[2][10] She died from COVID-19 on April 5, 2020.[11][12][13]

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1975JawsMrs. Kintner
1987Jaws: The Revengemisspelled as "Mrs. Kitner" in credits
2016The Mistover TalePriscilla Goodrich(final film role)

References
  1. Seemayer, Zach (5 April 2020). "Lee Fierro, 'Jaws' Actress, Dies of Coronavirus Complications at 91". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  2. Weiss, Josh (5 April 2020). "Lee Fierro, Mrs. Kintner is Steven Spielberg's 'Jaws,' dies at 91 from coronavirus complications". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  3. Garrett, Major (1 September 2014). "40 years later "Jaws" still alive on Martha's Vineyard". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  4. Kachmar, Diane C. (2002). Roy Scheider: A Film Biography. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1201-3.
  5. Falcon, Gabriel (30 June 2010). "Recalling the summer of 'Jaws'". CNN. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  6. Gottlieb, Carl; Benchley, Peter (2010). The Jaws Log: 30th Anniversary Edition. ReadHowYouWant.com. ISBN 978-1-4587-2000-9.
  7. "Three Cheers, Bon Voyage for Lee Fierro". Vineyard Gazette. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  8. Moreau, Jordan (5 April 2020). "Lee Fierro, 'Jaws' Actor, Dies of Coronavirus at 91". Variety. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  9. Brennan, George (5 April 2020). "Lee Fierro, 'fiercely dedicated' to theater, has died". The Martha's Vineyard Times. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  10. "Farewell "Tea with Lee" for Lee Fierro". The Martha's Vineyard Times. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  11. Alexander, Bryan (5 April 2020). "'Jaws' actress Lee Fierro, whose Mrs. Kintner slapped Chief Brody, dies of coronavirus at 91". USA Today. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  12. Willen, Claudia (20 April 2020). "Celebrities and entertainers who have died from complications related to the coronavirus and COVID-19". Business Insider. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  13. Butler, Karen (6 April 2020). "'Jaws' actress Lee Fierro dies of coronavirus at 91". UPI. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
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