Jill Jacobson has sadly passed away at the age of 70.
Her friend and publicist Daniel Harary confirmed the news to Variety on Sunday, (December 15), sharing that Jacobson died on December 8 at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Culver Health Center after battling a “long illness".
The versatile actress was celebrated for her roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Falcon Crest, and Days of Our Lives.
Jacobson, a former spokesperson for the American Cancer Society, spoke openly about her struggle with esophageal cancer earlier this year. During a September appearance on The Jim Masters Show, she described how the illness impacted her life.
“What I went through was pretty intense. You can’t function, you just can’t function,” Jacobson said. “And now I’m so grateful, I just want to keep going, I want to help people. It makes you want to help people.”
Her manager, Ben Padua, also confirmed her death to Entertainment Weekly, remembering her as a one-of-a-kind talent.
“We are incredibly sad to say goodbye to our beautiful, soulful, hysterically funny, elegantly raunchy client, Jill Jacobson,” Padua said.
“Jill was a total spitfire of an actress with comedic timing straight out of a Marx Brothers’ flick and Hollywood glamour right from its golden age. Jill took us on so many adventures and she was an absolute blast. Thank you, Jill. We’ll see you in our dreams.”
A Career Spanning Film, TV, and Theater
Born in Texas, Jacobson studied radio, TV, and film performance at the University of Texas in Austin before heading to Los Angeles to pursue acting.
She made her film debut in 1977’s Nurse Sherri and Bad Georgia Road, eventually appearing in indie comedies such as Forbidden Love (1982), Baby Sister (1983), and Splash (1984).
Jacobson’s television career flourished in the 1980s and 1990s, highlighted by a recurring role as Erin Jones on Falcon Crest and appearances in Days of Our Lives, Quantum Leap, and Newhart. She left a lasting mark on the Star Trek universe, portraying two different guest roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Her most recent screen appearance was in the 2020 horror anthology series Etheria.
Outside of acting, Jacobson performed stand-up comedy at iconic Los Angeles venues, including The Comedy Store and Improv, and was beloved for her work in theater.
Remembered by Friends and Family
Caryn Richman, Jacobson’s co-star in The New Gidget, fondly recalled her as both a gifted comedian and a cherished friend.
“Jill’s comic timing was brilliant. And her enthusiasm and love of life made our time together on set joyful,” Richman told Deadline.
Jacobson’s family also paid tribute, sharing a heartfelt statement through Deadline: “Beautiful, energetic, and positive to the end, she will be deeply missed by numerous relatives, friends, and her beloved dogs Benny and Kowalski.”
Our thoughts go out to Jacobson's family, friends, and fans at this time.
