Actress Jill Jacobson, who appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Newhart, has passed away. She was 70 years old.
Publicist Dan Harary confirmed to Deadline that Jacobson passed away “after a long illness” Dec. 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 Texas native got her start in acting with the titular role in 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 honored the late actress with a touching statement.
“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.”