Prolific US TV star Jill Jacobson dead after ‘intense’ illness

An actress who starred in shows like Star Trek and Who’s The Boss has died aged 70, weeks after her final on-camera interview.

Actress Jill Jacobson, who appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Newhart, has died. She was 70 years old.

Publicist Dan Harary confirmed to Deadline that Jacobson died “after a long illness” on December 8 in Culver City, California.

The outlet reports that Jacobson revealed earlier this year that she had been struggling with esophageal cancer for over two years, noting it “kind of took me out of the game for a while.

“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,” she said of the experience during a recent appearance on The Jim Masters Show.

The on-camera appearance, posted on YouTube two months ago, has now been updated as her “final interview.”

Jacobson, seen here in 2010, appeared in many TV shows throughout her career. Picture: Getty

The Texas native got her start in acting with the titular role of the 1977 slasher flick Nurse Sherri, launching a long career in television and film.

She later made appearances in Quantum Leap, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Newhart,Who’s The Boss? and more. Years later, she also appeared on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in another role.

Jacobson also had a small recurring role in Days of our Lives in 1995. She also played detective Erin Jones in the 1985 series Falcon Crest, while also starring in The New Gidget.

Jacobson’s The New Gidget co-star Caryn Richman also honoured the late actress with a touching statement.

Jacobson on a 2011 red carpet. Picture: Getty

Her final interview was just two months ago on this YouTube talk show.

“Jill’s comic timing was brilliant. And her enthusiasm and love of life made our time together on set joyful,” Richman said, per Deadline.

Jacobson was also a spokesperson and a volunteer with the American Cancer Society.

Her family released a statement regarding her passing, saying, “Beautiful, energetic, and positive to the end, she will be deeply missed by numerous relatives, friends, and her beloved dogs Benny and Kowalski.”

This story originally appeared on Decider and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as Prolific US TV star Jill Jacobson dead after ‘intense’ illness