On December 8, 2024, celebrated actress Jill Jacobson, best known for her roles in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Falcon Crest,” passed away at the age of 70 at Cedars-Sinai’s Culver West Health Center in Los Angeles, California.
Jacobson’s passing, following a prolonged illness, was confirmed by her friend and publicist, Daniel Harary. Earlier in September, Jacobson had disclosed her battle with esophageal cancer, expressing that she had been undergoing treatment for about two and a half years. Harary acknowledged her “resilience and humor” throughout her fight with the disease.
Her manager, Ben Padua, lauded her acting prowess, describing her as a “total spitfire of an actress with comedic timing straight out of a Marx Brothers’ flick and Hollywood glamor right from its golden age.”
Jacobson, a native of Beaumont, Texas, who later moved to Dallas, acquired a B.S. degree in Radio, TV, and Film Performance from the University of Texas in Austin before relocating to Los Angeles to chase her acting aspirations.
The actress’s passion for acting was apparent from a young age, with her involvement in regional theater productions in Texas before making a name for herself in Hollywood. Jacobson’s career kicked off with the 1977 horror film “Nurse Sherri,” where her compelling screen presence was noticeable.
She is remembered for her role as the cunning private detective, Erin Jones, in the CBS primetime soap “Falcon Crest” from 1985 to 1987. Jacobson also featured as Larue Wilson on “The New Gidget” from 1986 to 1987, a sequel to the 1960s ABC sitcom. Her co-star, Caryn Richman, commended her “comic timing” and “enthusiasm and love of life.”
Jacobson’s expansive career saw her appearing in a variety of television shows, including “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Days of Our Lives,” “Castle,” “Hung”, “Who’s the Boss?”, “Quantum Leap,” “Arliss,” “Murphy Brown,” and “Newhart.”
In the franchise “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” she played Thiana, a Bajoran woman, making a significant impact on fans despite her brief role. She also had a minor role in the 1984 film “Splash,” where she shared the screen with Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah.
In her later years, Jacobson regularly performed at Los Angeles comedy clubs, such as The Improv and The Comedy Store, enthralling audiences with her sharp wit and self-deprecating humor. Her stand-up acts often merged humor with sincere anecdotes about her journey in Hollywood.
“Etheria,” a series focusing on women-driven genre stories that aired in 2020, featured Jacobson’s last credited role. She guest-starred in an episode that underscored her characteristic strength and charisma.
Jacobson leaves behind a host of relatives, friends, and her cherished dogs, Benny and Kowalski.