How did Linda Haynes die? 'Rolling Thunder' and 'The Drowning Pool' star was 75
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA: Linda Haynes, the actress who starred in films such as 'Rolling Thunder,' 'The Drowning Pool' and 'Brubaker,' had died on July 17 in South Carolina at the age of 75.
Her son Greg Sylvander announced her death on Facebook and wrote,
“As an only child, I have dreaded these times my entire life. I find peace in knowing that my mother was at peace and had the most beautiful life these final years together with her grandchildren, Courtney Sylvander and I."
How did Linda Haynes die?
"We are going to miss my mom immensely," added Sylvander. Haynes was known for her roles in the 1970s and 1980s, especially in the cult classic 'Rolling Thunder,' written by Paul Schrader and directed by John Flynn.
She played Linda Forchet, a woman who helps a Vietnam veteran (William Devane) seek revenge after losing his hand and family in a brutal attack.
Quentin Tarantino praised Haynes’ performance and wrote in an obituary for Linda, “Linda Forchet is my favourite female character in a Paul Schrader movie…she has that look that Ava Gardner got, you know blousy, but it took Ava years to do it, and Linda Haynes just did it naturally. And I mean that in a good way.”
Quentin Tarantino also named 'Rolling Thunder' as one of his favourite films
Tarantino also named 'Rolling Thunder' one of his favourite films and even created a distribution company called Rolling Thunder Pictures.
Haynes as per Variety also appeared alongside Pam Grier in the Blaxploitation film 'Coffy,' Robert Mulligan’s neo-noir 'The Nickel Ride' and Paul Newman’s detective thriller 'The Drowning Pool.'
One of her last films was 'Brubaker,' a prison drama with Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman. Her first film role was in the Japanese sci-fi film 'Latitude Zero,' directed by Ishiro Honda.
After retiring from acting, Haynes worked as a legal secretary and remained a member of the Actor’s Studio. "She was often found working on beautiful paintings of the sea and nature.
In the 1990s, her time spent on Staniel Key, in the Exuma islands of the Bahamas, helped to deepen her love for the ocean," the obituary share noted. She had a gift for engaging in conversation, making those who spoke with her always feel comfortable and at ease.
