Actress Jill Jacobson died December 8 in Culver City, California at Cedars-Sinai-affiliated Culver West Health Center after a long battle with esophageal cancer. She was 70.

Born Jill Harriet Jacobson on May 21, 1954 in Beaumont, Texas, She grew up in Beaumont and Dallas.

Jacobson graduated from The University of Texas in Austin with a BS in Radio-TV-Film/Performance. She moved to Los Angeles and was cast in the title role of the cult classic film Nurse Sherri. The role was followed by her major appearances on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, Hung, Newhart, Castle, and Who’s the Boss? Of all her roles, she was perhaps best known for her role of Erin Jones in 22 episodes of Falcon Crest, but played that role simultaneously with her casting as Larue Wilson on The New Gidget .

Jacobson starred in the horror film Nurse Sherri (1977) as Sherri Martin, RN, the possessed nurse who is forced to murder her patients.

She played Dr. Cabot in the R-rated remake of Edgar Allan Poe’s House of Usher (2008). On Next Gen, Jacobson appeared in the episode “The Royale” as Vanessa, a gambler who found Data’s explanations fascinating.

Jacobson wrote and starred in the short Mic Whore (2014). She was also executive producer of the project. Her many TV guest appearances included one role each on Quantum Leap, War of the Worlds, and Freddy’s Nightmares. She also appeared on Castle, Newhart, Murphy Brown, and Crazy Like a Fox. Jacobson voiced Marina’s mother in The Stone Boy (2015).

In addition to her many TV roles and occasional feature film roles, Jacobson, made multiple stage appearances, and in recent years, performed stand-up comedy routines at LA’s The Improv and The Comedy Store.

On DS9, Jacobson appeared once as Bajoran restaurateur Chalalan Aroya in the episode “The Broken Link.” Aroya owned the Celestial Cafe. Elim Garak, spy and tailor, attempted matchmaking her with Constable Odo. Unfortunately, Garak was better at making clothes than helping the lovelorn. It’s a pity she was only in one episode. It would have been fascinating to know more about the other residents of DS9.

Jacobson was the recipient of the 2014 Scare-A-Con Film Festival Award in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role as Barbara in The Last Look (2014).

Jacobson was a spokesperson and award recipient for her volunteer work with the American Cancer Society. Donations to the American Cancer Society may be made in her memory. Katyn Richman, one of her co-stars on The New Gidget, said “her enthusiasm and love of life made our time together on set joyful.” 

Her first feature film was Bad Georgia Road (1977). Her final performance will be released posthumously, an appearance as Marielle in Merrily, currently in post-production and due out in 2025.

Jacobson was married to and divorced from actor Paul Dorman. They had three sons together.

Our deepest condolences to her family and friends.