Jillian Kesner (August 9, 1949 - December 5, 2007) was an American Actor and Production Co-ordinator who appeared as Mindy's KTNS colleague, Judi Marino in Season 4's Metamorphosis, the TV Show.
Biography[]
Jillian Kesner was born on August 9, 1949 in Portsmouth, Virginia. Her father was a Navy officer and she primarily grew up in Denver, Colorado. She received a B.A. in business from a Colorado University in 1967.
An advanced karate practitioner and champion which was utilized in her acting career, in 1969 Kesner moved to Los Angeles, California and worked as a model prior to embarking on an acting career in both movies and television.
Shortly after moving to LA, she met her future husband the noted cinematographer Gary Graver while acting in her featured debut. Gary Graver becoming step-mother of Chris Graver and Sean Graver.
Outside of her acting credits, Jillian also handled production coordinator chores on a handful of low-budget straight-to-video movies that were directed by Graver. In addition, both Kesner and Graver tried to complete Orson Welles's unfinished film "The Other Side of the Wind." Following Graver's death on the 16th of November 2006, Jillian continued her efforts to preserve Welles's cinematic legacy.[1]
Jillian Kesner contracted Leukemia, but died at age 58 from a staph infection on December 5, 2007 in Irvine, California.
Career[]
After 6 years working as a print model in L.A..[2] Jillian appeared on The Hollywood Stars of Tomorrow episode of Bob Hope's show (1975). She then made her screen bow in an episode of S.W.A.T. (1975) going on to appear in shows like The Blue Knight, The Rockford Files, Happy Days, Three's Company and its spin off The Ropers, T.J. Hooker, and was a regular cast member of the short-lived sitcom Co-ed Fever. In 1976 she made her film debut as fiery juvenile delinquent Carrie in The Student Body, which is also where she met future husband, Gary Graver.[1]
Filmography[]
| Year | TV Series | Episode(s) | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | S.W.A.T. | The Steel-Plated Security Blanket | Miss California |
| 1975 | Barnaby Jones | Portrait of Evil | Cindy |
| 1976 | The Blue Knight | Bull's Eye | Lady in swimsuit |
| 1976-1977 | Happy Days | Fonzie the Superstar
Marion Rebels |
Patty Petralunga
Lorraine |
| 1977 | The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Mystery of the Solid Gold Kicker | Paula Clark |
| 1979 | The Rockford Files | No Fault Affair | Lily Showalter |
| 1979 | The Ropers | Your Money or Your Life
The Other Man |
Linda Graham |
| 1979 | Co-ed Fever | 8 episodes | Melba |
| 1981 | Three's Company | The Not-So-Great Imposter | The Sister |
| 1982 | Mork & Mindy | Metamorphosis - The TV Show | Judi Marino |
| 1983 | T.J. Hooker (TV Series) | A Child Is Missing | Crystal |
| Year | Movie | Role | |
| 1976 | The Student Body | Carrie | |
| 1977 | Evil Town | Dorothy | |
| 1978 | Starhops | Angel | |
| 1980 | Ang agila at ang falcon (Fillipino) | ||
| 1981 | Firecracker | Susanne Carter | |
| 1982 | Raw Force | Cookie Winchell | |
| 1982 | Trick or Treats | Andrea | |
| 1987 | Moon in Scorpio | Claire | |
| 1989 | Jaded | Sara | |
| 1989 | Beverly Hills Vamp | Claudia | |
| 1992 | Roots of Evil | Brenda | |
| Year | TV Movie | Role | |
| 1996 | Subliminal Seduction | Cherl | |
Mork & Mindy[]
An actual graduate of Mindy's alma mater, Colorado University, Jillian appeared in Season 4's Metamorphosis, the TV Show as Judi Marino, KTNS's beautiful blonde, weathergirl with an eye for self preservation and a moral compass to match. When Miles Sternhagen is sacked and everyone is worried about their jobs under new General Manager, the boyish Daniel Pierson, Judi makes a pre-emptive bid for safety, by flirting outrageously with the young man. Something that, come the time for Pierson to make his annoucements about his cuts, seems to work, with Judi on his arm.