A prolific actress in TV and film, Jillian moved into production and worked with husband Gary Graver on several projects, including their documentary, Working with Orson Welles. They also started the Orson Welles Film Archives, encompassing all of Orson’s titles. Recent producing credits include Love Her Madly, directed by Ray Manzarek (The Doors) and Thy Neighbor’s Wife. As an actress she played opposite Robin Williams on Mork & Mindy, was Fonzie’s girlfriend on Happy Days, and was in Three’s Company, Rockford Files, T.J. Hooker, Barnaby Jones, SWAT, Roots of Evil, Moon in Scorpio, Trick or Treats and more. She played the lead in many action/adventure films of the ‘80s as a martial artist.
Jillian Kesner-Graver, actress and widow and collaborator of
cinematographer Gary Graver, died December 5, 2007, in Irvine, California of
complications of a staph infection, which she contracted after having
been diagnosed with leukemia. She was 58.
