Jill Jacobson, ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’, ‘Who’s the Boss?’ star dies at 70

Jill Jacobson, best known for her roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Who’s the Boss?, has passed away at the age of 70.

Jacobson died on Sunday, Dec. 8, following “a long illness” at Culver West Health Center in Culver City, California, according to her friend and publicist, Dan Harary.

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

Earlier this year, Jacobson revealed her challenging two-and-a-half-year battle with esophageal cancer, which she eventually overcame.

Reflecting on her experience, she shared with Jim Masters, “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.”

Her The New Gidget co-star and close friend Caryn Richman paid tribute to Jacobson’s vibrant personality, saying, “Jill’s comic timing was brilliant. And her enthusiasm and love of life made our time together on set joyful.”

Throughout her career, Jacobson appeared in numerous popular television shows, including Days of Our Lives, Falcon Crest, Quantum Leap, Murphy Brown, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Arli$$, Party Down, Hung, and Castle.

She also featured in several independent films spanning back to the 1970s.

In addition to her acting career, Jacobson was recognized for her advocacy work, earning awards as a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society.