Actress Jillian Kesner-Graver dies

Actress, widow, collaborator

Jillian Kesner-Graver, actress and widow and collaborator of cinematographer Gary Graver, died Dec. 5 in Irvine, Calif. of complications of a staph infection, which she contracted after having been diagnosed with leukemia. She was 58.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 19, from 4-6 p.m., at the American Cinematheque Egyptian Theater.

Arriving in Los Angeles from Colorado in 1969, she worked as a print model before breaking into show business as a Bob Hope “Star of Tomorrow” and playing Fonzie’s girlfriend on “Happy Days.” She also appeared on TV in “Three’s Company,” “Mork and Mindy,” “The Blue Knight” “T.J. Hooker” and “The Rockford Files.”

Kesner had a following among action fans due to her starring role in Cirio Santiago’s 1981 kick boxing feature “Firecracker.” Among her other credits were “Starhops,” “Moon in Scorpio,” “Jaded,” “Trick or Treats” and “The Student Body”; she was particularly proud of the latter as it was the film the two men watch at the Texas drive-in in “The Thin Blue Line.”

Popular on Variety

She worked closely with her husband in connection with his work as Orson Welles’ longtime cinematographer and in recent years traveled the world with him presenting programs devoted to Welles’ later, often unfinished work. Since Graver’s death one year ago, she had continued to run his equipment and film operations.

She is survived by her mother, two sisters and two stepsons.

Jump to Comments

Must Read

Film
COVER | Sebastian Stan Tells All: Becoming Donald Trump and Starring in 2024’s Most Controversial Movie
By Andrew Wallenstein 3 weeks

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXGDjqyanqaVZL2mu8%2BlnGamlazAcK3Crameq6Nit6q4y6KYp2WbmsCvsdFmnquZppq%2FbrDInqpmaWFmhHqDl2lobmc%3D

Aldo Pusey

Update: 2024-03-21

JadeW