Jill Jacobson who guest-starred on Star Trek: The Next Generation as Vanessa in the second season episode, "The Royale," has passed away at seventy, according to Deadline. Also guest-starring on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Aroya in "Broken Link," the prolific actress began her acting career by playing Sherri in the slasher horror film, Nurse Sherri, in 1977. She continued acting through 2020, with her last onscreen performance as a bartender in Etheria. She currently has another project, Merrily, in production, which is expected in November 2025.
A statement from her family after the actress' death read "Beautiful, energetic, and positive to the end, she will be deeply missed by numerous relatives, friends, and her beloved dogs Benny and Kowalski."
Also a standup comedian, Jacobson performed at the Improv and The Comedy Store in Los Angeles, with her New Gidget co-star and close lifelong friend Caryn Richman saying "Jill’s comic timing was brilliant."
The actress revealed earlier this year that she had endured a two-and-a-half year battle with esophogeal cancer. In an almost two hour interview with Jim Masters from The Jim Masters' Show, Jacobson shared how intense the struggle was saying, "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 became a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society, receiving rewards for her work. Dan Harary, her friend and publicist said Jacobson died on Sunday December 8 at Culver West Health Center in Culver West Health Center in Culver City, California. At the time, she had been suffering through a long illness.
We here at Red Shirts Always Die express our deepest condolences to Jill Jacobson's friends and family. May she rest in peace.