The actor of ‘Falcon Crest’ and ‘The New Gidget’ was 70 years old

Jill Jacobson, a television character actress best known for her work on series such as Falcon Crest and The new gadgetis dead, her manager Ben Padua confirmed Weekly entertainment. She was 70 years old.

Jacobson died Dec. 8 at Cedars-Sinai’s Culver West Health Center after an extended illness, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“We are incredibly sad to say goodbye to our beautiful, soulful, hysterically funny, elegantly sassy client, Jill Jacobson,” Padua said in a statement. “Jill was a total firebrand of an actress with comedic timing straight out of a Marx Brothers movie and Hollywood glamor right out of its golden age. Jill took us on so many adventures and she was an absolute blast. Thank you, Jill. We ‘ see you in our dreams.”

Jacobson was born in Texas and grew up between Beaumont, Tx., and Dallas. She attended the University of Texas at Austin where she received a BS in Radio, Television and Film Performance before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Her first role was in the 1977 low-budget slasher horror film Nurse Sherri in the title role.

Beginning in the early 1980s, Jacobson appeared primarily on television, with bit roles in shows such as Harper Valley PTA, and in TV movies included Not just another affair, Forbidden love, Policewoman Centerfoldand An unusual love. In 1984, Jacobson had an uncredited role in the blockbuster Splash.

From 1985 to 1987, Johnson played spy Erin Jones in 22 episodes of the 80s primetime soap opera Falcon Crest.

“Working on this amazing show was some of the happiest times I’ve had!” Jacobson said in a 40-year tribute to Falcon Crest. “I got to blow up bridges and hijack big truckloads of wine and put meal moths in vineyards! How much fun can you possibly have?”

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At the same time, Jacobson contributed further The new gadget — a sequel to the ’60s sitcom that made Sally Field a star — as Larue, Gidget’s longtime best friend, from 1986 to 1988. Other notable parts include two episodes about Newharta five-episode arc on Days of our livesand guest roles on both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Jacobson made numerous and varied appearances on TV throughout his decades-long career, such as Quantum leap, Who is the boss?, Murphy Brown, Party down, Hungand Castle. Her last credited role was in the 2020 series Etheria.