Lee Fierro aka Mrs Kintner (1929 - 2020)
The Daily Jaws was sad to learn of the passing of Jaws actress Lee Fierro today. She was 91.
Lee played the key supporting role of Mrs Kintner, mother to Alex Kintner the second victim of the great white shark that terrorised the residents and tourists of Amity Island.
Ms Fierro was a resident of Marthas Vineyard during the production of Jaws and was the local drama teacher and amateur dramatics enthusiast. During the period after the filming of Jaws, Lee operated a children's theatre in Tisbury Martha's Vineyard with friend Mary Payne. Lee was a well known force for acting and the performing arts for the citizens of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Lee Fierro on set with Roy Scheider. Lee had to slap Roy a reported 17 times.
Lee won her role as the grieving mother after answering a casting call in the local paper and then auditioning for Steven Spielberg and legendary casting guru Shari Rhodes. The infamous ‘slap scene’ took a reported 17 takes (hence why Roy Scheider’s face is a little red already before he’s slapped). It is arguably the most important moment in the movie and is Jaws screenwriter Carl Gottlieb’s favourite self-scripted scene in the movie.
Lee would later reprise her role as Mrs Kintner in Jaws The Revenge (1987). She can spotted briefly when Michael Brody returns to Amity after the death of his brother Sean and enters the Brody home where his mother Ellen (Lorraine Gary) can be seen waiting alone outside.
Lee Fierro reprised her role as Mrs Kintner in Jaws The Revenge (1987)
Several decades after the filming of Jaws, Lee walked into a seafood restaurant and noticed that the menu had an "Alex Kintner Sandwich". She commented that she had played his mother so many years ago. The owner of the restaurant ran out to meet her - none other than Jeffrey Voorhees, who had played her son. They hadn't seen each other since the original movie shoot.
Lee continued to enjoy being a big part of the Jaws legacy long after her involvement in the movies ended, by attending Jaws fest and even accepting offers to slap the Jaws fans that asked - although she stopped this a few years ago.
“Very sad to report that our dear friend from early Island Theatre Workshop days on the Vineyard, the amazing Lee Fierro, has passed away from Covid-19 at an assisted living facility where she had been living near her family in recent years. Condolences to all of us who knew her.”
In 2017, after living most of her life on Marthas Vineyard, Lee moved away to be closer to her family.
The Daily Jaws and all Jaws fans around the world offer our sincere condolences to Lee’s family and friends.
Did you ever meet (or get slapped by) Lee? We’d love to hear your stories.