Rolling Thunder actress Linda Haynes dies at 75

Linda Lee Sylvander, known as Linda Haynes during her 1970s and early 1980s acting career, which included appearances in Rolling Thunder and Brubaker, has died. She was 75 years old.

According to her obituary, the actress died "peacefully, with her family by her side" on July 17 in Summerville, South Carolina. Her family provided no cause of death.

"As an only child, I have dreaded these times my entire life," her son Greg Sylvander wrote on Facebook Friday. "I find peace in the knowing that my mother was at peace and had the most beautiful life these final years together with her grandchildren, Courtney Sylvander and I. We are going to miss my mom immensely."

Haynes, who was born on November 4, 1947, in Miami, Florida, made her film debut as Dr. Anne Barton in 1969's Latitude Zero. Her most noteworthy appearances, however, were as Linda Forchet in the 1977 psychological thriller Rolling Thunder, with William Devane and Tommy Lee Jones, and as Carol in the 1980 film Brubaker, which also starred Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman.

Quentin Tarantino lauded her performance in the John Flynn-directed film earlier.

"The performance of the film for me is Linda Haynes as Linda Forchet," he said. "Linda Forchet is my favorite female character in a Paul Schrader movie. … She has that look that Ava Gardner got, you know blousey, but it took Ava years to do it, and Linda Haynes just did it naturally. And I mean that in a good way."