Gina Heslop
Jill Jacobson, a well-known actress famous for her roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Falcon Crest, has sadly passed away at the age of 70.
She died on December 8 at Cedars-Sinai’s Culver West Health Center after battling a long-term illness. Her death was confirmed by her longtime friend, Dan Harary, who shared the news with The Hollywood Reporter.
Jill was born in Texas and grew up in the cities of Beaumont and Dallas. She always dreamed of becoming an actress, so after finishing school, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career. Her first big break came in 1977 when she played the title character in the film Nurse Sherri.
However, she became most famous for her role as Erin Jones in Falcon Crest, where she appeared in more than 20 episodes. She also made a strong impression in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, gaining fans from all over the world.
Aside from acting, Jill was also involved in the film industry behind the scenes. She worked as an executive producer on several projects, including The Circle and the short film Mic Whore in 2014. Her creativity and passion for entertainment extended beyond the screen.
In September 2024, Jill revealed that she had been fighting esophageal cancer for over two and a half years. She described her experience as extremely difficult, explaining that the treatment had been intense and had kept her away from acting for a while. Despite her struggles, she remained positive and turned her experience into a chance to help others.
After her diagnosis, she became a volunteer and spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. She was deeply committed to raising awareness and supporting others going through similar battles. Her dedication to this cause earned her several awards for her advocacy work.
Reflecting on her journey, Jill once said, “Now I’m so grateful, I just want to keep going, I want to help people. It makes you want to help people.”
Her passing is a great loss to her family, friends, and fans. Her longtime friend, Dan Harary, shared that she would be deeply missed, not only by her loved ones but also by her beloved dogs, Benny and Kowalski.
Her manager, Ben Padua, also expressed his sadness, saying, “We are incredibly sad to say goodbye to our beautiful, soulful, hysterically funny, elegantly raunchy client, Jill Jacobson.” He described her as an actress with incredible comedic timing, comparing her to the legendary Marx Brothers, and said she had the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age.
Even though Jill Jacobson is no longer with us, her talent and passion will continue to be remembered. Fans will have one last opportunity to see her on screen in the upcoming TV show Merrily, which is set to be released in 2025.
