'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Actress Jill Jacobson, best known for her appearances on TV shows like Falcon Crest, passed away at the age of 70. The news was confirmed by her friend and publicist, Daniel Harary, who added that she died "after a long illness," according to Deadline, on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at the Cedars-Sinai’s Culver West Health Center in Culver City, California.
Harary said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter:
"She will be deeply missed by numerous relatives, friends and her beloved dogs, Benny and Kowalski."
Trending
The exact cause of Jacobson's death remains unconfirmed.
During a September 2024 appearance on the Jim Masters Show, the actress revealed she struggled with esophageal cancer. Stating that it "kind of took me out of the game for a while," she added:
"What I went through was pretty intense. You can’t function, you just can’t function. And now I’m so grateful, I just want to keep going, I want to help people. It makes you want to help people."
In addition to her Hollywood career, Jill Jacobson was a volunteer with the American Cancer Society, and served as a spokesperson for the organization.
Jill Jacobson was also a regular stand-up performer
According to a December 2024 article by The Hollywood Reporter, Jill Jacobson hailed from Texas, and was born to Dr. Harry Jacobson and Carol Toplitz Jacobson Hornstein. She earned a degree in Radio, TV, and Film Performance from the University of Texas in Austin, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
One of her earliest roles was playing the titular character in Al Adamson’s 1977 cult horror film Nurse Sherri. Some of her other early roles include Bad Georgia Road (1977) and Up Yours (1979). In the 1980s, Jacobson starred in several indie comedies, including Forbidden Love (1982), Baby Sister (1983), and Splash (1984).
However, Jill Jacobson is best known for her TV roles, including appearing as private detective Erin Jones (from 1986 to 1987) on Falcon Crest and playing Larue Wilson on The New Gidget (from 1986 to 1987). Her longtime friend and co-star on the latter show, Caryn Richman, told The Hollywood Reporter:
"Jill’s comic timing was brilliant. And her enthusiasm and love of life made our time together on set joyful."
Some of Jacobson's other television credits include Days of Our Lives, Quantum Leap, Who's the Boss?, Hung, and Castle. The actress also appeared in guest roles on two Star Trek shows: Next Generation and Deep Space Nine.
According to an article by People, Jacobson was also a regular performer in theater and stand-up comedy. She has previously performed at the Improv and The Comedy Store in Los Angeles.
A 40th Anniversary Falcon Crest tribute website, quoted Jacobson, who expressed her love for the show.
"Working on this amazing show was some of the happiest times I've had!... I got to blow up bridges and hijack large truckfuls of wine and put mealy moths in vineyards! How much fun could one possibly have?" she said.
Jill Jacobson also starred in several TV movies, including Not Just Another Affair, Forbidden Love, Policewoman, and An Uncommon Love. Per IMDb, Jacobson's final acting credit was the horror anthology series Etheria in 2020.
Dates for funeral and memorial service remain unconfirmed.
