Jill Jacobson has died at the age of 70 following a long illness.
The actor, who played the character Vanessa in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, had recently recovered from oesophageal cancer after living with the illness for two and a half years, as per The Independent.
Her close friend and publicist Dan Harary told The Hollywood Reporter that Jacobson died on December 8 at Culver West Health Center in Culver City, California. He said: “Beautiful, energetic, and positive to the end, she will be deeply missed by numerous relatives, friends, and her beloved dogs Benny and Kowalski.”
As well as her role in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Jacobson played the private detective Erin Jones in 22 episodes of the CBS soap opera Falcon Crest from 1985 to 1987 and Larue Wilson on sitcom The New Gidget from 1986 to 1987.
Jill Jacobson in 2011. CREDIT: Amanda Edwards/WireImage via Getty Images
Caryn Richman, who worked on The New Gidget alongside Jacobson, said of her former co-star: “Jill’s comic timing was brilliant, and her enthusiasm and love of life made our time together on set joyful.”
Jacobson also appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in 1996 as Aroya, in Days Of Our Lives as Nurse Nancy, as Doreen Douche in Uncle Buck, and as Shirley Winnick in Quantum Leap. Her final project, the drama Merrily, is set for release next year.
In recent years, Jacobson often performed stand-up comedy at Los Angeles’ The Improv and The Comedy Store, and was a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society, receiving an award for her work with the organisation.
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